India's tour of South Africa 2018: Analysing India's batting riches

Shikhar Dhawan

After a sensational debut at Mohali in 2013 versus the Aussies, where he scythed them to a resplendent 187 in rip-roaring fashion with none of the debutant nerves, it won't be out of place to say that Shikhar's form in Test matches has tapered off drastically since. He has certainly not set the world alight barring good consistent overseas displays in Sri Lanka.

His regular success in the shortened formats, in the intervening periods that included stunning displays in the Champions Trophy twice in 2013 and 2017 and in the World Cup at Australia in 2015, has accorded the team to lend him a longer rope to sustain in Tests. It is about time he pays them back with solid consistent runs.

This spell of away matches in South Africa, England and Australia (if picked regularly), i.e, in the next 15 months, may well be his last set of chances to salvage his Test career and mitigate his woes abroad, where his best score thus far is 81 at Brisbane.

His shockingly sparse returns at England in the summer of 14' and at SA earlier in late 2013 are virtually nothing to write home about, with less than 200 runs in ten digs. His propensity to play shots, if "judicious and selective", and his ability to play the ball on the up are handy attributes to dent the new ball.

It throws the new ball bowlers off their radar provided he tightens his overall game on these seaming tracks by playing back and across. Batting is about 'give and take': unless Shikhar masters the art of "give", and bides time and develops an ability to play a string of dot balls (remain in sheltered concentration), his raging temper at the crease can be fatal.

KL Rahul

I was immediately impressed by his brilliance in compiling back-to-back tons for South Zone versus Central Zone three years ago when I was the coach of the side. With an airtight technique and an Oh! so correct approach at the crease, all prim and proper without a hair out of place, it has mystified a lot of discerning followers as to why he has not filled up his boots with more runs and a longer batting span.

It certainly perplexes me as to why he is unable to convert his starts and unable to kick on after notching fifties. It betrays a certain lapse in concentration and the hurt that he has endured warming the benches, notwithstanding his 10 half centuries in 2017, must steel his will.

Batting for long periods is about obsession and the ensuing satisfaction after long hours of self-persecution and ironclad discipline. That he has all the shots is reflected in his T20I ton in Windies in August 2016, but the key is to have patience on a monument and a firm, focussed mind to eschew high-risk shots, which he is capable of as his aggregate suggests.

There is none doubting his splendid talents, but should he not convert those starts, after the hard yards seeing the new ball off, it will be infuriatingly mad for Indian cricket. Aside, he may also provide the team with more options and be considered as a No.5 or a 6, should the team's think-tank look to replace an out of form Rahane. His skill sets as an opener to deal with the second ball might well be more than handy. But, in my book, he may have to wait a tad, as the first choice could well be Vijay and Shikhar.