ENG vs IND: "Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were..."- Ashish Nehra impressed by how KL Rahul lived up to the expectations of 'experienced player'

KL Rahul mustered 532 runs in 10 innings during ENG vs IND test series.

Former India pacer Ashish Nehra has heaped praise on KL Rahul for his marvellous batting show during the test series against England. Rahul mustered 532 runs in 10 innings at an average of 53.20 during the series.

The right-handed batsman hammered two centuries and an equal number of half-centuries and finished as the second-highest run-scorer for the team after Shubman Gill (754 runs). Following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from test cricket ahead of the tour, the right-hander was given the opener’s role on a full-time basis.

The five-match test series between India and England ended in a 2-2 draw after the visitors made a fabulous comeback in the fifth test at The Oval. India crushed England by six runs in the encounter as the hosts failed to chase down a 374-run target.

He was an experienced batter: Ashish Nehra lauds KL Rahul

While speaking on Sony Sports, cricketer-turned-commentator Nehra noted that Rahul was an experienced batter in the team after the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from test cricket, and he executed his job properly.

“He was an experienced batter. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were not there. There were a few young players. An England tour is not easy. No matter how much you discuss that the pitches in the first two Tests were the flattest, you still need to score runs on that, and this player showed that by doing it,” he said.

“As an opener, when you are the most experienced player in the team, that must be in your mind. The experienced players like him and Jasprit Bumrah did their job fully. It felt good that he got a chance to play at the number he has been playing for a long time. He made the most of the opportunity he got at the right place,” Nehra added.

Following Rohit’s retirement from test cricket, Gill was appointed as the new skipper in tests. He ended as the highest run-scorer in the series with 754 runs across five games. At an average of 75.40, he hammered four centuries across 10 innings, including a double ton.

Gill won Player of the Series award for his marvellous batting show in the series. Mohammed Siraj, who clinched a five-wicket haul in the Oval test, finished as the highest wicket-taker in the series with 23 scalps. He also won Player of the Match award in the fifth test for picking nine wickets in the encounter.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.