India’s go-to man in crises, or a victim of unfair criticism?

In the first Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which India won emphatically by 295 runs, there were plenty of positives to celebrate.

Virat Kohli brought up his 30th Test hundred, 22-year-old Yashasvi Jaiswal dazzled with a stroke-filled 161 on his maiden Australian tour, and captain Jasprit Bumrah, ably supported by Mohammad Siraj and Harshit Rana, dismantled the Australian batting line-up.

But amid all the fireworks, one name quietly played a crucial role without hogging the limelight: KL Rahul. In many ways, he laid the foundation for India’s commanding win.

With the regular opener and skipper Rohit Sharma set to return for the Adelaide Test, Rahul is likely to move to the middle order, where the Indian management has been keen to back him.

He might slot in at No.3 if Shubman Gill hasn’t recovered or at No.6, replacing Dhruv Jurel. Interestingly, despite being earmarked for a middle-order role, he was asked to open in Rohit’s absence, a testament to his versatility and the team’s trust in him.

Rahul was arguably India’s best top-order batsman in the first innings when they were bundled out for a modest 150. His 26 off 74 balls might not stand out on the scorecard, but in a difficult batting environment, he displayed great composure and fight.

Unfortunately, a controversial decision cut his knock short just as he looked set. In the second innings, Rahul played a crucial role once again, crafting a composed 77 while letting Jaiswal take centre stage with his aggressive stroke play.

KL Rahul acknowledges a half century. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

2024 hasn’t been an easy year for Rahul. He faced relentless criticism over his inconsistency in Tests and was even dropped during the home series against New Zealand in favor of Sarfaraz Khan. To give him some much-needed game time, he was added to the India A squad for the second match against Australia A.

But Rahul struggled there too, managing just four and 10, with his dismissal in the second innings, bowled between his legs by Corey Rocchiccioli, widely discussed. Those outings offered no positives and only added to the scrutiny surrounding his form.

Despite this, the Indian management remained steadfast in their belief in him, handing him the opener’s role in Rohit’s absence.

Rahul’s Test journey has been a mix of flashes of brilliance and prolonged struggles. His career began in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2014 at Melbourne, where he debuted in the middle order.

It was a forgettable start, with scores of three and one. However, in his very next match at Sydney, opening alongside Murali Vijay, Rahul silenced his critics with a majestic 110, a knock still fondly remembered.

Fast forward 10 years, and Rahul’s career continues to intrigue. Across 54 Tests, he averages 34.26 with eight centuries. What makes him stand out, though, is his ability to score overseas.

Six of his eight centuries have come outside the subcontinent, a rare feat for Indian batsmen, who typically dominate home conditions but struggle abroad.

Yet, for all his contributions, Rahul often finds himself under the radar, overshadowed by louder narratives.

With competition for spots fierce and young batsmen like Khan and Dhruv Jurel waiting in the wings, this series might well determine his long-term role in this Indian Test side, and whether he’ll ever get the recognition he deserves as the go-to man in crises or remain a cricketer hard done by.