KL Rahul to do wicket-keeping duties for India in first test against South Africa 

India will play first Test against South Africa in Pretoria and it is poised to witness a unique twist as KL Rahul, primarily known for his prowess with the bat, is set to take on the role of wicketkeeper.

Despite having limited experience in first-class cricket as a keeper, Rahul’s proficiency in white-ball cricket in last 10-13 months has earned him the nod for this crucial position.

With regular wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan opting out of the series, Rahul’s versatility as a top-order batter and his success behind the stumps in shorter formats have prompted the team management to entrust him with the wicketkeeping duties in the longest format of the game.

India’s head coach, Rahul Dravid, expressed optimism about Rahul’s readiness for this challenge, highlighting the player’s dedication and preparation over the past months. “He has done a lot of keeping, even though it’s in the white-ball format. But this will be a new and exciting challenge for him,” Dravid remarked, acknowledging the significance of this shift in roles for the 31-year-old cricketer.

“He has prepared well over the last five or six months. He has done a lot of keeping, even though it’s in the white-ball format. But this will be a new and exciting challenge for him.”

Reflecting on India’s previous success at Centurion Park in 2021, Dravid emphasized the importance of posting substantial first-innings scores. “If I go back to the last series, the one thing we did here (Pretoria) really well was we had a good first innings. We got to 327. If you can put up those kinds of scores on challenging wickets, you put yourself ahead in a Test match,” he stated.

As India aims for its first series win in South Africa, the spotlight is not only on the team’s batting performance but also on how KL Rahul adapts to his new role as the designated wicketkeeper.

The upcoming Test promises an exciting challenge for Rahul, presenting him with an opportunity to showcase his skills in a different dimension of the game. He will likely be brimming with confidence after leading the young Indian team to a 3-match ODI series victory.

He performed admirably as a wicketkeeper behind the stumps, all while captaining the young Indian side. It’s always a positive sign for a player to exude confidence, and India will undoubtedly benefit from it in this important series.