The 32-year-old was dismissed in bizarre fashion on Friday as the Australia A attack wiped out the tourist’s top order to leave them 5/56 at one point.
Watch every ball of Australia v Pakistan ODI Series LIVE & exclusive to FOX CRICKET, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
Rahul’s rare appearance for India A ended with scores of 4 and 10, leaving the race wide open for a less experienced players to fill two possible spots in India’s batting order when the First Test begins in Perth from November 22.
Much worse than the scores was the nature of Rahul’s dismissal with the right-hander failing to offer a shot to a regulation delivery by spinner Corey Rocchiccioli.
When the off-spinner knocked over Rahul, the tourists were 4/44 and his dismissal was the biggest talking point.
Rahul lifted his bat and elected not to play at the ball as Rocchiccioli’s tweaker skidded through and collected a deflection off the inside of Rahul’s front pad as it crashed into the stumps.
The Fox Cricket commentary team were in disbelief.
Former Aussie Test spinner Bryce McGain said: “I just don’t know what he was thinking here,” he said.
“It was a ball and he was expecting it to turn and do all sorts of stuff and he’s kicked it onto his stump. You could not possibly predict that type of wicket.”
As Rahul walked back to the fence another commentator said: “He shakes his head, but that’s just a total disaster for KL Rahul”.
Cricket fans around the world were at a lost t explain his actions.
Leading cricket reporter Bharat Sundaresan posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: “The more you watch this replay, the more you wonder if this is just a batter who needs a hug rather than criticism or even any technical advice.
“Just looking at KL Rahul’s body language post dismissal in particular.”
Another posted: “There’s now way even KL Rahul fans can defend him”.
Rahul’s most recent trip to Australia will also make it harder for selectors to pick him.
His last tour to Australia in 2018-19 saw him fetch four single-digit scores out of five innings.
In the other dressing room at the MCG, the Australia A team’s first innings also made things difficult for selectors.
The battle to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order for the First Test doesn’t look any clearer after Nathan McSweeney (14) and Marcus Harris (74) failed to make a statement.
Beau Webster was the stand out of the Aussies.
The lanky Tasmanian stepped up in Michael Neser’s absence to claim two more wickets for Australia A to put them in the box seat for a series clean sweep.
The visitors went to stumps on the second day at 5-73 with a slender lead of 11 runs.
With Neser unable to bat after the hamstring injury he suffered on Thursday, Australia A’s innings concluded at 9-223 with a 62-run lead.
The Queensland quick’s absence meant Webster’s role with the ball would be critical in the second innings, and after claiming 3-19 in the first innings, his medium pace delivered the goods again.
Webster had Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal out cheaply, while offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli claimed the big wicket of KL Rahul to reduce the visitors to 4-44. with the visitors reduced to 4-44.
Rahul’s rare appearance for India A ended with scores of 4 and 10, leaving the race wide open for a less experienced players to fill two possible spots in India’s batting order.
Krishna courted controversy during the first session when he approached umpire Gerard Abood to ask about having the ball changed.
It came after keeper Ishan Kishan was warned for dissent and umpire Shawn Craig accused the visitors of “scratching the ball” in the first game in Mackay, but Cricket Australia quickly cleared them of ball tampering.
“(It looks like India is) talking about a bit of potential mud on the ball; making sure it’s OK to get it out of the seam,” former Victorian cricketer Rob Quiney said on Kayo.
“I’m not sure if it’s an aesthetics thing … Krishna’s not happy, full stop.”
— with NCA NewsWire
