The wicket has eased up a little: KL Rahul after Day 2

Dean Elgar’s 14th Test hundred helped South Africa make massive strides in the Boxing Day Test against India on Day 2. Continuing their innings overnight, India managed 245 in their first innings which appeared to be a good total on this wicket. However, playing in his last Test series, Elgar kept the visitors at bay. 

Stitching a 131-run stand with the debutant David Bedingham (56 off 87 balls), Elgar carried South Africa to 256/5. He was unbeaten on 140 off 211 balls alongside Marco Jansen (3 off 13 balls) before bad light forced early stumps. KL Rahul notched up his eighth Test hundred in the first session of the day’s play which was the only positive for India on a disappointing day. 

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While the Indian seamers were erratic for the most part of the day, it appeared the conditions had eased out to bat as compared to Day 1. Rahul, having batted a bit in the first hour and then kept wickets, echoed the same thought. 

“They [South Africa] batted well. Elgar batted well and put the pressure on bowlers, putting away the loose balls. But it [batting] did get a bit easier today. Having batted today, even for 7-8 overs, it felt that the wicket had eased up a little bit. Yesterday, it was very damp. It is always the case with wickets with grass on, second and third days are the best to bat on,” Rahul said after play on Day 2. 

Rahul scored 101 off 137 balls, continuing from his overnight score of 70 from 105 deliveries. Thanks to his innings, India recovered from 121/6 to end Day 1 at 208/8. The ball seamed consistently and swung a bit in the air throughout with extra bounce. 

“It was quite difficult to find,” Rahul said about the extreme conditions for batting on the first day.

“The wicket was still a bit damp from the rain and was under covers for a couple of days. So, there was a lot of juice and help in the wicket which they [South Africa pacers] exploited very well,” Rahul explained. 

The 31-year old batted at number six for the time in his Test career since his debut in 2014. It was a combination of his form with the bat as a middle-order batter in white-ball cricket, his wicketkeeping in those games and Rishabh Pant’s unavailability that marked his return to the Test team in wicketkeeper-batter’s role.

However, Rahul nailed the role of batting in the middle order. On Day 2, he added 37 runs to India’s total by farming the strike from the tailenders and going for opportune big strokes. The Karnataka batter completed his hundred with a six over mid-wicket. 

“Batting in the middle order, I have realized you can’t plan your innings much since there is a situation in front of you. So I try to walk in with a very free mindset when I am batting in the middle order,” he said. 

“Today, the situation was quite clear that I am batting with the tail so I need to take my chances and try to make as many runs as I can,” Rahul added.

Sunil Gavaskar, part of the broadcasting team, rated it among the top 10 overseas hundred by an Indian batter in Test cricket. “Very humbled if he has made that comment. A huge compliment to get,” Rahul said in response. 

India have their back against the walls in the Test match. South Africa are leading by 11 runs with Elgar still out there. Temba Bavuma is not expected to bat in this innings after straining his left hamstring muscle. But India’s first task will be to wrap up the hosts’ innings quickly. 

We are focusing on the first session tomorrow. To bowl in the right areas. There is still some help in the wicket. Try to get them out as soon as possible and then put some runs on the board,” Rahul mentioned.

The right-hander was asked about social media trolls too and Rahul answered how it has affected him to some extent. 

“Social media is a pressure. Today I have scored a hundred so people are singing praises. Few months ago, everybody was abusing me. It's part of the game, but I can't say it doesn't affect you; it does,” Rahul replied. 

“Anyone who says that doesn't affect them at all, I'm sure is lying. But each person has to find their way. And for me, when I was injured and was away from the game for such a long time, I worked on myself. I tried to return to the person I am and worked on how I don't change myself by getting affected by these things. It is difficult to remain true to yourself and accurate to your personality with so much happening. It is the hardest thing.

"But like anything else in cricket, like anything else in life, there's, there are ways to work on it. There are people who can help you if your mind is open. So that's what I did when I was out of the game. I worked on myself and then worked on remaining calmer and taking care of my head. And what happens inside as well," Rahul added on his struggles with the social media. 

"The sooner you realize that staying away from these things is beneficial for your game and mindset, the better it is,” Rahul said about drawing a line on engaging with social media, much in sync with his signature shut-the-white-noise celebration.