Rahul ready to bat anywhere for India in second Test

ADELAIDE: KL Rahul said Wednesday he will bat “wherever” as India face a conundrum in the second Test against Australia with the expected return of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill.

The 54-Test veteran opened in the first Test at Perth, which India won by 295 runs, alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in the absence of skipper Rohit, who stayed home for the birth of his second child.

Number three Gill also missed the match with a thumb injury, but both are set to return for the day-night clash starting in Adelaide on Friday, leaving selectors with a headache. Rahul and Jaiswal shared a 201-run second innings opening partnership in Perth that proved pivotal in securing victory with both again set to pad-up.

Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel appear likely to make way for Rohit and Gill, but who bats where remains to be seen. “I’ve been told, but I’ve also been told not to share it,” Rahul told reporters when asked if he knew what position he would be batting in Adelaide.

“I just want to be in the playing XI. Fit me in wherever. I want to go out there and bat and play for the team. “Luckily for me I have batted in different positions,” he added. “Whether I am batting top of the order or in the middle order, if I can manage the first 30-40 balls at start, everything then seems like regular batting, that’s what I try to focus on.”

Rahul scored a patient 26 in the first innings in Perth then a solid 77 in the stand with Jaiswal, who slammed 161. While India head into the second match of the five-Test series full of confidence, they have less experience of pink ball cricket than Australia.