Rated highly by the great Rahul Dravid for his near-perfect batting skills, KL Rahul is the quintessential opener with all the traits of becoming a modern day great of the gentlemen's game. Belongs to the India's next generation of batsmen, Rahul's breakthrough moment came in the 2013-14 Ranji season when he laid the foundation for Karnataka's triumph with 1033 runs. It included three centuries, three nineties, and a Man-of-the-Match performance in the final. After making an unforgettable Test debut against Australia at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, Rahul found his mojo in his second Test in Sydney where he stroked a brilliant hundred to stamp his class in the international arena. He was later selected in the limited-overs squads in Zimbabwe and West Indies in mid-2016. Rahul repaid the faith of selectors in style and showed his versatility across formats by scoring a hundred each on his ODI and T20I debut. In the lucrative Indian Premier League, the Bangalore-born batsman has played for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sunrisers Hyderabad so far. After spending last two seasons with RCB, Rahul has been picked up by Kings XI Punjab in this year's player auction. He was one of the most expensive Indian buys (Rs 11 crore) of the 2018 edition. Rahul can open or bat at No 3 and 4, and given his ability as a wicketkeeper, this is a key purchase for KXIP. Major teams - India, Bangalore Brigadiers (Urban), India Under-19s, India Under-23s, Karnataka, Karnataka State Cricket Association Colts XI, Royal Challengers Bangalore, South Zone, Sunrisers Hyderabad Playing role - Opening batsman Batting style - Right-hand bat
Read MoreShubman Gill continues to struggle in red-ball cricket with another low-scoring knock against England in the ongoing first Test match in Hyderabad. Gill has scored only 189 runs in 9 Test innings played at no.3 role and is drawing flak from cricket fans and experts.
After Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill's early departure on Day 2, KL Rahul played a brilliant knock of 86 off 123 and spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja added unbeaten 81 runs to propel India to a total of 421/7, giving them a strong 175-run lead.
Team India will have a new wicketkeeper in the upcoming England Test series, one of KS Bharat or Dhruv Jurel as KL Rahul is set to play just as a specialist batter, as head coach Rahul Dravid confirmed. The five-match Test series is set to begin in Hyderabad on January 25.
Father Suniel Shetty and brother Ahan have also wished the couple by sharing unseen pictures on Instagram.
The BCCI announced the Indian team squad for England Tests with three wicketkeepers, however, only two of them will be delegated to be behind the stumps with KL Rahul set to play as a specialist batter. Rahul made his debut as a wicketkeeper in the South Africa series last month.
Team India is set to ring in changes as far as the make-up of the line-up is concerned for the Test series against England. KL Rahul made his debut as a wicketkeeper in red-ball cricket for India in the South Africa series but it seems, he might be freed up of that burden in the upcoming series.
Team India have a few wicketkeeping options in the run-up to T20 World Cup to try and finalise. Two of them, Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma will be getting opportunities in the Afghanistan series. However, Sunil Gavaskar, let alone these two, didn't even consider Ishan Kishan as one of the options.
KL Rahul was not recalled into the Indian squad set to take on Afghanistan in an upcoming T20I series. He was among the senior pros along with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to have not played a T20I since World Cup 2022. However, Rohit and Kohli are now back in the team.
India cricketer KL Rahul has been one of the vital players in India's line-up over the last few years. He has played a lot of memorable knocks so far but is yet to win a World Cup across any format. He is still hurting with the World Cup final loss on November 19 to Australia.
South Africa landed a knockout punch on India as they won the Boxing Day Test in Centurion within three days. It was an abject surrender from the Indian team with both bat and ball as they first conceded a 163-run lead and then were folded for just 131 with Virat Kohli putting up some fight.
KL Rahul's transformation from an opening batter to a middle-order enforcer was completed on the second day of the ongoing Boxing Day Test against South Africa. After having a smashing World Cup as wicketkeeper batter at No.6, Rahul smashed a ton on his debut as a keeper in Tests.
South Africa dominated the proceedings on the second day of the Boxing Day Test as they not only took a lead against India but they still have half their side left and a set Dean Elgar batting on 140. Earlier, KL Rahul completed his century to give India a respectable score on board of 245.
Gerald Coetzee despite bowling well didn't get enough rewards before finally getting Mohammed Siraj as his only wicket in the first innings against India in the Boxing Day Test in Centurion. However, Coetzee was unhappy in the dying minutes of the innings when the wicketkeeper gave away an easy bye.
KL Rahul came out to bat at number six for India in the ongoing first Test against South Africa and propelled the team's total to 245 runs. He smashed his eighth Test ton scoring 101 runs before being the last batter to get out.
IND vs SA 1st Test: KL Rahul powered India to 245 with a sensational hundred on Day 2 of the first Test in Centurion. The wicket-keeper batter has scored his second hundred at the venue after his first came two years back.
IND vs SA 1st Test: KL Rahul batted extremely well in challenging conditions on the opening Day of the first Test between India and South Africa. From being 92/4, he took India to 208/8 at stumps on Day 1. Rahul's unbeaten fifty sees him join the likes of MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant.
"So maybe somebody with Rahane's experience overseas... because Rahane overseas has been such a fine, fine player and maybe if he had been there today the story could have been completely different," Sunil Gavaskar said during commentary on the official broadcast.
The returning South African pacer Kagiso Rabada took five wickets to dominate the opening day of the first Test match against India at Centurion's SuperSport Park. KL Rahul's unbeaten 70 runs helped India score 208/8 in 59 overs as rain ended Day 1's play early.
Team India is gearing up to take on South Africa in a two-match Test series starting on December 26 in Centurion. The Rohit Sharma-led side last played a Test match in July against the West Indies and the squad has witnessed a few changes since then including a return for two World Cup stars.
India head coach confirmed that KL Rahul will don the wicketkeeping gloves in the first Test match against South Africa ahead of Ishan Kishan's replacement KS Bharat and also revealed extra bounce and seam at the SuperSport Park pitch suggesting the importance of pace bowlers.
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