Bangladesh Will Run Into A Different KL Rahul Today

When India last played Bangladesh in December 2022, KL Rahul was in the kind of rut in which a batter is not quite sure where his next run will come from.

- Sanjjeev K Samyal

In the two-match Test series, the stand-in captain scored 57 runs in four innings at an average of 14.25. In the ODIs earlier, he had amassed 95 runs in three matches, averaging 31.67. That is a mere 152 runs in seven innings.

When he fell cheaply (2 runs) in the final innings of the tour, it added fuel to the meme-fest on social media as cricket experts and fans mercilessly trolled and mocked the batter.

Rahul himself was honest about not being up to the mark during the series on turning tracks, admitting there were lessons to be learnt from the Bangladesh experience.

"You obviously have that responsibility to do well," Rahul had said at the end of the series in his press conference.

"That never changes whatever format you are playing; (you want to) do the best you can, (but) that doesn't happen every time. At least I have seen a few ups and downs in whatever little cricket I have played. I know that neither of the things last too long."

Now as Bangladesh gear up to face India in the World Cup game in Pune on Thursday, their bowlers will be up against a transformed version of Rahul. The hesitancy in his footwork is a thing of the past and after starting the World Cup with a sensational 97 not out against Australia in Chennai, the keeper-batter is clearly brimming with confidence.