BGT: Kaif supports Jaiswal-Rahul as the opening duo for Boxing Day Test against Australia
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New Delhi, Dec 25 (NationPress) Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif indicated that he favors Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul as the opening duo for the upcoming Boxing Day Test against Australia, which is set to commence at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday.
While Jaiswal has shown inconsistency throughout the series, except for a brilliant 161 at Perth, Rahul stands out as India’s top scorer on the ongoing tour, accumulating 235 runs across six innings at an impressive average of 47, including two half-centuries.
Despite speculation regarding Rohit Sharma potentially returning to the opening slot, with Rahul moved down to number three, Kaif has advocated for maintaining the Jaiswal-Rahul combination at the top.
“KL Rahul is doing exceptionally well, and Jaiswal has also scored a century. When Jaiswal is in form, India tends to win Test matches. He has a playing style reminiscent of Sehwag, capable of dominating swiftly and swinging the match in India’s favor,” Kaif commented in a video shared on his ‘X’ account on Wednesday.
“I believe Jaiswal should remain in the lineup, while KL Rahul should continue to build a solid opening partnership. A player who has scored heavily in Australia, England, and South Africa should not be overlooked. His past performances on challenging pitches warrant preference,” he added.
With the five-match series currently tied at 1-1, Kaif perceives the competition as balanced, stating that India could secure a victory in Melbourne if they can dismiss their key adversary Travis Head early. Nonetheless, he warned Indian batsmen to be wary of Scott Boland, who took five wickets in Adelaide, contributing to an Australian victory.
“I believe the Test series is evenly contested. Although Indian batting form is shaky, several players are struggling, the same holds true for the Australian side. If Travis Head is dismissed, India has a strong chance of winning, especially with Bumrah in the lineup. Even with a struggling batting order, India can clinch this series,” he concluded.
“The way the Australian batsmen have been getting out caught behind shows significant issues in their batting lineup. Outside of Travis Head, players like Labuschagne have faltered against Nitish Reddy. The Australian batting has considerable weaknesses, while Boland poses a substantial threat to Indian batsmen, likely taking 2-3 wickets,” he finished.
