Matthew Hayden Praises KL Rahul’s Comeback Performance in Perth Test

KL Rahul silenced his critics with a brilliant unbeaten knock in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Perth. On Day 2, Rahul, opening the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal, remained not out on 62 off 153 balls. India ended the day at 172/0 in their second innings, leading by 218 runs.

Speaking on Star Sports, former Australian captain Matthew Hayden praised Rahul’s performance and made some insightful observations about his approach to batting. Rahul was promoted to the opening position due to regular captain Rohit Sharma’s absence on paternity leave.

Matthew Hayden’s Take on KL Rahul

“As a Test opener, you fail more often than you succeed. That’s just the reality. You face a new ball in challenging conditions, and it’s tough to survive. But KL has always struck me as someone who thinks a lot about his game, maybe even overthinks at times. His immense talent should give him confidence, but sometimes it seems to complicate the simple aspects of batting,” Hayden said.

He further explained, “Test cricket is about the art of leaving the ball, and KL demonstrated that brilliantly in the first innings under tough conditions. He left the ball better than anyone else in that innings, which was crucial.”

Hayden also highlighted Rahul’s influence on his younger partner Yashasvi Jaiswal in the second innings. “KL likely shared his experience and wisdom with Jaiswal, who then showed another great skill—hitting the ball late. That takes a lot of confidence and patience, and it’s something KL mastered in this game.”

Rahul’s performance has set the tone for India’s strong position in the match and is a testament to his ability to adapt under pressure.