KL Rahul received a stroke of luck at the start of Day 4 at the Gabba when Steve Smith dropped a straightforward catch at second slip. It was the first ball of the day delivered by Australian captain Pat Cummins. Former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin remarked on Smith’s lapse in concentration.
At the time of the dropped catch, Rahul was on 33. He displayed his relief with a glance upwards and a silent prayer. He capitalised on the reprieve, reaching his 17th Test fifty.
“That was a concentration lapse from Steve Smith, well bowled Pat Cummins. On the back foot, KL Rahul, nice and easy. The ball could not have come slower or in a better position, but Steve Smith has dropped an absolute sitter,” said Brad Haddin while commentating on Triple M.
Watch: Smith spills a simple catch as India stage recovery on Day 4 at the Gabba
After overcoming some initial morning uncertainty, Rahul displayed superior batting compared to his teammates.
Australia positioned three slips and a gully, leaving open spaces on the field. This setup invited Rahul to play his preferred drive through the covers or in front of the point.
This field placement was risky given the movement and bounce available to the Australian pacers. However, Rahul exhibited caution, only playing his favoured shots when the bowlers pitched the ball perfectly in his driving arc.
Rahul’s judicious approach was evident in his defensive technique. He demonstrated soft hands and played close to his body.
Cummins targeted the fifth-stump line outside off stump. Rahul responded by leaving the ball judiciously or deflecting it behind his pads.
Smith ultimately redeemed himself with a remarkable catch at slip off Nathan Lyon’s bowling, ending Rahul’s innings after he scored 84 runs. The catch highlighted Smith’s athleticism and ability to make amends for his earlier error. It also brought to a close a resilient innings by Rahul.
