India vs Bangladesh: Gautam Gambhir works on KL Rahul's technique at Kanpur nets ahead of 2nd Test

Ahead of the second and final Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur, India batter KL Rahul was seen practicising against spin with head coach Gautam Gambhir watching closely in the nets.

Rahul had been dismissed on 16 off 52 deliveries off Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s bowling after Bangladesh opted to field on Day 1 of the opening Test, his dismissal reducing India to 144/6 before Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja came to the home team’s rescue.

The senior wicketkeeper-batter, however, produced a lively cameo in India’s second innings, remaining unbeaten on 22 off 19 balls and stitching an unbroken 53-run partnership with Shubman Gill as the hosts declared on 287/4, setting Bangladesh a mammoth 515 to win. India ended up going 1-0 up in the two-Test series with a massive 280-run victory.

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According to The Indian Express, head coach Gambhir decided to have a closer look after Rahul decided to switch nets to face the spinners. After getting caught at forward short leg off Mehidy’s bowling at Chepauk, Rahul was also seen struggling against the net bowlers.

Read | What Kanpur’s weather will be like on Days 1 and 2 of the second IND-BAN Test

Gambhir then offered Rahul tips on his footwork and his forward defence, which brought about an instant improvement and resulted a pat on the back from the former India opener, who also happened to serve as mentor to the Lucknow Super Giants, the team that he captains in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

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📍 Kanpur#TeamIndia hit the ground running ahead of the 2nd #INDvBAN Test 🙌@IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/EMPiOa8HII

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 26, 2024

The cameo that he produced in the second innings in Chennai might just help the former India vice-captain retain his place in the XI. And India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar for one expected more such knocks from the batter on the road ahead.

Read | Abhishek Nayar remains coy on India's XI ahead of 2nd Test against Bangladesh

“Sometimes, it is just direction and I feel KL is someone who understands his game very well. In South Africa, he played tremendous knocks. We are very hopeful with the kind of communication that Gautam has had and I have had with him that hopefully, we can have a turnaround in KL as well.

“The way he was batting in the second innings is the kind of cricket we are expecting and hoping for. I am pretty sure going forward you will see more such performances from him,” Nayar told reporters during the pre-match press conference in Kanpur.