Lokesh Rahul bats with wicket: India opening batsman Lokesh Rahul was seen as batting with a wicket in his hand in the nets.

India opening batsman Lokesh Rahul supported an old but unique way of improving his timing, i.e., by batting without a bat but a wicket in his hand. Rahul was seen as batting in this way during India’s net session ahead of the first Test of the four-match series.

Because a wicket provides less surface area to a batsman, if he is able to middle the ball with a wicket, there are high chances of him doing it with the bat as well for it has a larger surface area.

While no batsman would want to face a bowler in such a scenario, he is usually seen facing throw-downs from the support staff, as was the case with Rahul.

A vital member of India’s 12-member squad, Rahul is all in likeliness of opening the batting alongside Murali Vijay in the first Test to be played from tomorrow at Adelaide. Rahul’s lean patch in the recent times has caused concerns about him batting at the top of the order but the team management is expected to persist with him.

Having made his Test debut and scored his maiden Test century in Australia during India’s last tour in 2014, Rahul would be confident of repeating the performance for his team would be hoping of runs from him at the top of the order.

The 26-year old right hand batsman has scored 1,848 runs in 31 Test matches at an average of 37.71 and a strike rate of 58.11. His numbers fall down further when it comes to batting outside the sub-continent. In 12 Test outside the sub-continent, Rahul has scored 695 runs at an average of 33.09 and a strike rate of 55.24, including three centuries.

Lokesh Rahul bats with wicket in hand

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