‘Never thought I would get to play Test cricket again’ – KL Rahul speaks on Boxing-Day Test woes ahead of South Africa series

The Boxing Day Test between India and South Africa will be another chapter in KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal’s bromance story. The duo, which became the first pair from Karnataka to open the innings for India in Test cricket, will be opening the innings again in the first Test against South Africa.

BCCI released a video of a chat between Rahul and Mayank on December 23 on its official website. They had a long discussion regarding their careers, playing in South Africa, and other important aspects. Rahul, who has been appointed the team’s vice-captain, hinted that Mayank might open the innings alongside him.

If that happens, it will be the fourth occasion of them opening the innings. They last opened the innings together for India in August 2019 against West Indies. The duo has never had a partnership of over 50 runs on these previous three occasions.

The Indian selectors dropped Rahul from the Test squad after some mediocre performances in 2019. He made 110 runs in four matches at an average of 22. He didn’t play a single game in 2020 and thus, missed the entire World Test Championship cycle.

India went on to try some other opening combination at the top but never succeeded. Hence, Rahul was called back for the India tour of England. That series was the turning point in Rahul’s career as he made 315 runs in four matches, including a half-century in the Nottingham Test and a century at Lord’s. Rahul became the second-highest run-scorer for India and thus, cemented his position in the team.

To a question by Mayank regarding given the vice-captaincy of the Indian cricket team, Rahul said, “Six-seven months ago or a year ago, I never thought I would get to play Test cricket once again. But, things have turned around quite quickly, and I am very happy and grateful. I am very honored that such a huge responsibility is given to me, and I am looking forward to giving my best like I always do. I will try and help the team achieve more success.”

Further Mayank joked that the responsibility of the Indian team comes with a lot of grey hair to which Rahul replied: “I started getting a few (grey hair on beard) from the IPL captaincy, not from the responsibility from here. I am really happy to get such a huge responsibility and honor to be the vice-captain of the Indian team. Anyone would take that, and no one would worry of grey hair.”

Agarwal and Rahul’s long history

Both Mayank and Rahul started their cricketing career at the same time. They played Under-13, represented Karnataka in domestic cricket, played in IPL together for Punjab Kings and would now be playing the first Test together. Mayank asked Rahul to describe his journey from when he started playing cricket to his current stature in Indian cricket.

“My journey has been beautiful. I would not have it any other way. You have been a part of my journey, and I have been a part of yours. We both had to work hard to get to where we had reached. It has been a beautiful journey for both of us. We never thought that we would play for the country together. Our dream was to play for India, but we had those doubts.

“But we never gave up on our goals, and we tried harder and harder. Today we both are here, and it’s amazing sometimes to sit back and think of how we started and where we are today; it’s just magical to me. For me, I think it’s just like the beginning for both of us, and we still have a long way to go.

“We can make it count, and the understanding and the friendship we have shared for so many years will only help us build a better partnership in the middle. Hopefully, win a lot of games for India,” Rahul added.

KL Rahul’s bittersweet memories of Boxing Day

Rahul made his Test debut on Boxing Day against Australia in 2014. He could score only four runs in that match. During India’s tour of Australia in 2018, Rahul was dropped from the team just before the Boxing Day Test and was replaced by Mayank.

“I have a bittersweet memory of boxing day, to be honest. I made my debut on Boxing Day in Australia, which didn’t go great, and lost my position again on Boxing Day to you, for which I was really happy for you. But I knew what was coming for me because I had not put in the performances, which was okay. But, I felt like that was the end for me.

“I am a lot different from who I was in Australia in 2018-19 to who I was in 2014 when I made my debut. I am a lot more balanced in my approach to the game. I am excited and kicked about playing a boxing day Test match in Centurion and doing the best for my team. Hopefully, you and I can go out there on 26th and get our team to a great start and have a great series,” Rahul said regarding his memory of Boxing Day Test.