India opener KL Rahul has received solid backing from Australia legend Shane Watson, who believes the right-hander can relieve pressure on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli at the top of the Indian order as the Asia Cup approaches its conclusion and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup draws nearer.
Rahul has only played three T20Is this year – all in the Asia Cup – and is searching for touch and form before the all-important ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 next month.
India has adopted an aggressive approach with its batting since its struggles at last year’s edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, but Rahul hasn’t been able to have a major impact.
He’s scored 0, 36 and 28 in his three Asia Cup outings so far at a strike-rate of 106.67.
However, Watson believes that among India’s top three of Rohit, Kohli and Rahul, the latter could be the most potent in terms of strike rate.
“I just want him to be the best version of him,” Watson told Sanjana Ganesan in The ICC Review.
“And the times where I’ve seen the best version of him is when he’s really taking on the game.
“We’ve seen it a number of times in the IPL, a number of times for India as well. When he finds his feet and knows what the conditions are, he really takes down the bowlers.”
Rahul, who recently came back into India’s T20I team after an injury layoff, has come under criticism from some quarters for his slow starts. But Watson believes that if he breaks the shackles, it will help Rohit and Kohli play their natural games.
“He’s got an array of shots against the best bowlers in the world that no one can stop. When he becomes more of an accumulator, like he was at Punjab Kings and also for Lucknow Super Giants (in the IPL), he’s slightly lower risk but still can play the big shots. I believe he’s better than that,” said Watson.
“He can score at a 150-160 strike-rate against the best bowlers in the world and that’d take a bit of pressure off Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as well.
“So for me, when KL Rahul is at his best, he’s really taking the game on. He’s not accumulating runs, he’s just taking them on, from ball one. That’s the skill he’s got.”
In fact, Watson touted Rahul to be the main man for India in T20Is, stating his prime is yet to come.
“He’s performed very well in international cricket for India in recent times. He’s that good. The skill that he’s got, he certainly can be the main man,” said Watson.
“And he’s only 30 as well. He’s still got three, four, five years at his absolute prime at the international level.
“Batters normally take until they are 27, 28 or even into their early 30s for their whole game to come together – technique, mental aspect as well. He’s still got a lot of years in his prime.
“He can definitely take his game to that really high-performing, consistent level. That’s the skill he’s got.”
Watson went on to compare Rahul to former Australian stylist Damien Martyn, saying Rahul was one of his favourite players to watch.
“His skill, how effortlessly he takes on fast-bowling, spin, he’s got all the shots in the book and he just times the ball so beautifully,” Watson said.
“When I look at him batting, it makes me think of Damien Martyn and the grace that he had when he played, how hard he hit the ball. It looks like he’s not trying to hit the ball hard at all.
“In recent times, Suryakumar Yadav has certainly got that style as well. Babar Azam, you can’t go past him.
“But when it comes to KL Rahul, he’s certainly right up there with … his ability to just be able to take on the best bowlers of the world with so much ease. It’s not that easy.”
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