KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant need to be consistent across the India vs England series, says Manjrekar

The abrupt retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in May earlier this year propped KL Rahul as the senior-most batter in the Indian Test lineup ahead of the new WTC cycle. As the team geared up for the five-match India vs England series, under the captaincy of Shubman Gill, the lineup appeared raw. In the order where the captain himself would have played his second Test in England, the likes of KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja emerged as the experienced lot. Now, with the opening match of the series wrapped up, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant have shown their ability to bat like the seniors of the group.

KL Rahul can't be a 'one-match wonder', says Sanjay Manjrekar ahead of second India vs England Test

The opening India vs England Test at Headingley witnessed the brilliance of Indian batters. Though the tail-end disappointed, the younger lot proved their mirth. Yashasvi Jaiswal opened with a ton, marking a record-breaking Test debut on English soil. Moreover, Shubman Gill announced his arrival as the Test captain with a well-made 137 in the first innings. Rishabh Pant, meanwhile, played the perfect partner to the captain, notching his third Test ton in English conditions.

The second innings, meanwhile, saw KL Rahul heavy-lifting the load. Jaiswal, perturbed by his disappointing play in the field, departed cheaply this time. Moreover, Gill also fell shortly after, as the onus fell on Rahul to take the game long. The opener had looked well in the first innings as well. However, an edge at the wrong ball saw Rahul fall short of his fifty. Nevertheless, the batsman maintained his focus to leave the lethal deliveries alone and punish the strays. The opener batted almost across the second innings, as Rishabh Pant once again rose to the occasion.

Pant piled another ton in the match, becoming only the second wicketkeeper after Andy Flower to score twin tons in a Test. Moreover, the India vs England opener in Leeds marked the first time the Indian team scored five centuries in a single Test fixture. However, despite the record-breaking run of these batters, the visitors lost the plot. The tail-enders failed to back up the batters, and the fielders dropped the match out of their grasp. Moreover, the bowling lineup, except for Jasprit Bumrah, could not put the English batters under pressure, thus letting the hosts go one-up in the series.

Now, as the guests prepare for the second India vs England Test, scheduled at Edgbaston, Birmingham, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has come up with an advice. The yesteryear star has directed KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant to keep up their respective forms across the five-match series. Manjrekar hailed Pant for his brilliance in red-ball cricket and expressed confidence in his ability to show up for the team in the next matches.

"I think he will because it seems like he enjoys batting in Test cricket. Any batter who gets two hundreds in a Test match, it takes a lot out of you mentally, not so much physically, getting a hundred in the first innings, and 48 hours later, you have the same kind of reserve to get another hundred. So that is a hallmark of an exceptional player," Manjrekar said about Pant.

As for KL Rahul, Manjrekar warned that the senior batter could not risk being tagged a 'one-match wonder' again. Reiterating Rahul's stature as the senior-most batter in the lineup, Manjrekar talked about the need for the batsman to be consistent. The former batsman explained that Rahul needs to identify his potential and emerge as a reliable prospect in the team.

"Rishabh Pant enjoys Test matches. He has not got enough runs. So he is hungry. I see Pant carrying his form, but there is another senior batter in the team, who now has got no choice but to carry his form right through the series. Indian cricket needs him badly, and KL Rahul cannot be a one-hundred wonder or a one-Test-match performer," Manjrekar added.