By: Tarish Bhatt
KL Rahul is all set to replace Murali Vijay in the 2nd Test against the West Indies in Jamaica. The Indian opener was overlooked for the 1st Test, despite been in rich form throughout the season.
Vijay, who had a sore finger in Antigua, has failed to recover in time for the game, starting today. Rahul, meanwhile, is having a staggering season, across formats. He also scored a couple of fifties in the practice matches.
“Rahul has been in a very good zone,” captain Virat Kohli pointed out in the presser. “He scored runs in the practice games. He scored in Zimbabwe and he had a great IPL season.”
“I think that was the turnaround for confidence as far as he’s concerned,” he added. “Last year, he had a good tour to Sri Lanka, got a hundred there. But again he didn’t play against South Africa.”
The Indian captain said that he has complete faith in Rahul. Kohli added that having Rahul in the squad will provide him more options in fielding and wicketkeeping departments, too.
“He’s pretty compact, he’s a solid opener and he’s a great fielder as well,” Kohli insisted. “He gives you that wicket-keeping option as well, in case something happens to Saha.”
