Aakash Chopra has been left mighty impressed with the opening combination of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul during the first two Tests of the India-England series. In the first innings of the Lord's Test, the two laid a solid foundation for India by putting together 126 and it was their second 50-plus opening stand.
While speaking in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel, Chopra said that for a long time, there was a dearth of runs from the openers. However, the present duo of Rohit and Rahul seemed to have resolved the issue for now.
Former India opener Chopra also remarked that if the two right-handers continue in the same vein, India will not never to look back.
"They did a very good performance at the start in the last match as well. First innings of this Test match on Day 1, it was like supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. You had lost the toss, the opposing team had opted to field, there was some moisture and the overhead conditions were quite heavy."
"Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul is a new opening pair. If your opening partnership becomes so strong consistently, you will never be looking back," explained Chopra.
{{/usCountry}}"Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul is a new opening pair. If your opening partnership becomes so strong consistently, you will never be looking back," explained Chopra.
{{/usCountry}}Cricketer-turned-commentator Chopra further commented that the opening pair gel together really well as first Sharma dominates and then Rahul.
"First Rohit Sharma dominates, after that Rahul dominates. An opening partnership of more than 100 with that kind of class, panache, potential, promise and pedigree. It was just unreal."
The 43-year-old concluded by stating that both Sharma and Rahul have shown that they can rise to the occasion whenever required.
"The way Rohit is batting, of course he played the pull shot to get out in the second innings, but Rohit's class is beyond doubt and KL Rahul showed his range. Whenever you want, you can call upon either of them and you will find that they are very very good, efficient and effective," quipped Chopra.
In the first innings of the first Test at Trent Bridge, the two put on 97 runs. In the second innings, they managed 34. In the second innings of the Lord's Test, they put on 18. After drawing the first Test, India won the game by 151 runs after bundling England out for 120 on Day 5 and took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.