“O homem whole do time KL Rahul não sabe o quão bom ele é”

Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on KL Rahul as a “total team man” who could do anything that the side asks him to do. The opener stayed unbeaten on 47 runs at the end of play on Day 3 of ENG vs IND 1st Test in Leeds. Rahul’s patient knock saw him bat out 78 deliveries and strike 7 fours en route to his 47.

“Rahul has got an equanimity about him”

Speaking to broadcasters after stumps on Day 3, Gavaskar said that Rahul simply did not know how good of a player he is. Noting that he was a team player who batted anywhere when asked and even kept wickets, the ex-Indian batter said that he was very different from the rest of the modern cricketers and that even his celebrations were muted.

“Total team man. He has even been asked to keep wickets. He does that for the team, and that’s what you want in the team. You see the way he reacts to the situation. He’s got an equanimity about him, which is so rare because in today’s day and age where everybody’s got to be doing things to show that they have achieved something, his celebrations are also muted. One thing everybody agrees about KL Rahul is that he doesn’t know how good a player he is. I mean, he would agree,” said Gavaskar.

He further heaped praise on Rahul’s talent, noted that he had the ability to play a wide array of shots. He further hoped that the Karnataka batter could come good in this series and amass at least 700 runs from 5 Tests.

“He’s got so much talent. Look at all the shots on the offside, leg-side, the flick, everything. All the shots, but he hasn’t lived up to that. Now, that could be a bit of self-doubt in his mind or whatever that sometimes keeps the Bangalore boys from fulfilling their potential,” said Gavaskar.