XtraTime Web Desk: Legendary West Indies batsman Brian Lara fells facing new ball won’t be a problem for KL Rahul. He opened in the game against Pakistan last Sunday as regular opener Shikhar Dhawan was ruled out due to a thumb injury.
The Karnataka batsman made a patient 57 off 78 balls and shared a solid 136-run stand with Rohit Sharma in the game which India won by 89 runs via the DLS method. With Dhawan now ruled out of the entire World Cup and replaced by young Rishabh Pant, Rahul looks set to open with Rohit in the remaining matches.
Lara, , feels that Rahul will relish this opportunity. “Rahul is India’s second-best batsman after Virat Kohli and he has been the opening batsman for IPL (Indian Premier League) as well.”
“While batting at number four, India has already made a masterstroke as just in case there is a mishap at the beginning of the game, Rahul has shown in the warm-up match that he can come in at number four and play like an opening batsman,” 50-year-old Lara, who played 131 Tests and 299 ODIs, was quoted as saying in a release issued Friday.
The 27-year-old Mangaluru-born Rahul has so far scored 94 runs in three matches in the ongoing World Cup. He also scored a brisk 108 off just 99 balls while batting at number four in the warm-up match against Bangladesh.
“I think he will relish the opportunity of opening the batting after Shikhar Dhawan has been ruled out. Especially with the technique that he has, facing the new ball is not going to be an issue for him,” added Lara, one of the batting greats of his time.
Lara expects some special performances from Rahul. “I am looking forward to seeing something special from him. For me, he is going to be one of the top run-scorers in the World Cup,” Lara signed off.
Unbeaten India next take on Afghanistan in Southampton on Saturday.