"They want experience in number 6 when we tour Australia" - Hanuma Vihari backs KL Rahul batting down the order in ongoing Bangladesh Tests
Indian batter Hanuma Vihari believes the management is looking at the bigger picture for the marquee Test series in Australia by batting KL Rahul at No.6 in the ongoing Bangladesh series at home. Rahul batted at No.6 in the first Bangladesh Test in Chennai and managed scores of only 16 and 22* despite India's massive 280-run win.
The 32-year-old hadn't batted lower than No.4 since his maiden Test in Australia in 2014 until the South African tour at the end of last year. Rahul scored a brilliant century against the Proteas at No.6 in the first Test in Centurion and continued at the position in the following Test at Cape Town.
Talking to JioCinema ahead of the second Bangladesh Test, Vihari said:
"KL Rahul's role will be important because he is someone who's got the experience in playing in SENA countries and he can bat long. He has done well in SENA countries. I feel they are looking at KL Rahul at number 6 as well. By playing Rahul ahead of Sarfaraz in the current series (against Bangladesh), they are looking at a bigger picture. They want experience in number 6 when we tour Australia."
He added:
"Because in Australia playing at 6 you need to have good technique whether it's facing the second new ball or batting after an early collapse."
Despite the century in South Africa, Rahul has struggled for Test form since the start of 2022 with a dismal average of under 26 in 10 games.
"Pujara will be a big miss" - Hanuma Vihari
Hanuma Vihari feels veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara's absence would be a massive blow for India in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, considering his heroics in the previous two tours down under.
Pujara has not been part of the Indian Test side for over a year since the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia. The master technician was the Player of the Series in India's first-ever Test series win in Australia in 2018-19 with 521 runs at an average of 74.42.
While his average wasn't high in India's 2-1 win in the 2020-21 tour, Pujara scored three crucial half-centuries through the series.
"Pujara will be a big miss. he was the backbone of the batting line-up in the last two series for Team India. He took blows, he batted time, he stayed there for a long time, he saw the new ball, he got runs. He made the job easier for the other batters coming in. So that kind of role... who will play is a question mark for me. Currently I would say we have an attacking mode of a batting line up (the top six). All like to play their shots," said Vihari.
He added:
"Virat is the only one I feel in that batting line up who can be like a glue to the other batters. He can stay on and bat the most number of overs and you know batting in Australia is all about time. If you see off the new ball, it gets a little easier with the older Kookaburra ball."
Following the Bangladesh Tests, Team India will play New Zealand in a three-match home Test series before the blockbuster five-match series in Australia, starting November 22.