India's ideal opening combination for the 2nd test

The Enigma that is KL Rahul

KL Rahul has impressed and exasperated in equal measure

Coming in with a star-studded plaque of praise from none other than his namesake Rahul Dravid himself, KL Rahul stunned the world in his debut at the MCG. Not with a great innings, but with a display of idiocy. In both innings, he gave his wicket away by playing unnecessary shots.

As Rahul walked forlornly back to the pavilion, many fans were stunned and even enraged by his callous approach to a crucial game, and they wondered if he’d ever play again. But Virat Kohli persisted with him for the fourth test, where he was sent in to open.

He immediately came good, taking over as the senior partner after Vijay was dismissed for a duck. He first constructed a 97 run partnership with Rohit Sharma, and then a 141 run stand with Virat Kohli. He reached his maiden test century in the process, and proved Dravid’s words right.

In the Sri Lanka series, his ability to blow hot and cold was on focus again. After getting out to some daft shots in the first match, he scored an imperious 108 in the second, which helped India wrestle the advantage away from Sri Lanka in the series.

His knock was the turning point in the series, which India grabbed with both hands to level the series. But apart from that knock, his scores in the series read 7, 5, 2, 2 and 2.

But the fact remains that Rahul has scored two centuries in his first two series, and despite not showing the best of consistency, he has proved that he can bat for long periods in the middle. This will undoubtedly play on the mind of the team management as they size up Rahul and Dhawan, fully knowing that they only have one spot available.

The opening combination conundrum

The opening combination of Vijay-Rahul is India’s best bet for the 2nd test

Even as the second test approaches like an incoming train, the team management still resemble a deer caught in the headlights. There has been no confirmation over who will be selected, and it is entirely possible that we will have to wait until the day before the match, at the very least. But it is imperative that the selectors decide on a steady opening combination, for a good start to the match can go a long way in deciding the final result.

Murali Vijay has been rock solid in his slot, so there is no question of taking him out. There could have been a whisper of moving Cheteshwar Pujara up the order, but his knocks of 31 and 77 at No. 3 would have been a firm reminder of where he wanted to bat. So the toss up will be between KL Rahul and Dhawan, and the odds seem to favour the former.

The selectors have given Dhawan enough chances, and the fact remains that he isn’t at his best. Whether it is a mental block or a technique issue, Dhawan’s ineffectiveness has been on show all year.

He has shown that he has a tendency to flash at balls outside the off-stump, a fact that has been used to South Africa’s advantage. With Rahul on the bench, after two centuries in two series, the selectors have an ideal opportunity to make a youngster benefit from playing a world-class team in friendly conditions at home.

The fact that Rahul was not discharged from the test team like Rohit, Bhuvneshwar and Binny is good news for him, for it means that the selectors are pondering his inclusion in the side. With good knocks backing him up, Rahul has a very good chance of playing his first test match in India – and it has to be said that he deserves it.

The opening combination of Vijay-Rahul should be India’s best combination in the series, with both batsmen having the ability to stay in the crease for long periods. They have shown that they can negotiate both pace and spin, and they are India’s best bet as they go in to the second match looking to extend their lead.