IND vs AUS: Why Stats Do Lie? KL Rahul’s Case at No.3 and No.6 Tells a Different Story

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Team India will head into the second Test in Adelaide, brimming with confidence in the wake of their commanding 295-run win against the hosts at Optus Stadium in Perth.

With Rohit Sharma returning to the scheme of things, the team management is expected to make some tactical adjustments to ensure optimal balance in the playing XI for the day-night pink-ball encounter on December 6.

Rohit Sharma is most likely to join forces with Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top, meaning that KL Rahul will have to bat at the middle-order, which could actually be the case on paper. However, thinking logically, the best batting position for KL Rahul on Australian soil is by batting one down.

India's Test specialist batter Cheteshwar Pujara recently suggested KL Rahul to bat as an opener or at No.3. However, former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar thinks otherwise as he wants Rahul to bat at the No.6 position.

KL Rahul’s Case Tells a Different Story at No.3 and No.6

Stats often offer clarity in cricket, but at times doesn't show the full picture. Coming to KL Rahul’s case, at No.6, he has been pretty decent scoring 234 runs, including a century and a fifty.

On the other end of the spectrum, at No.3, he scored 88 runs. Yet, Pujara’s observation about Rahul’s comfort against the new ball, especially in Australian conditions, adds nuance to the debate. His technique and temperament make him the right option at No.3, even if the numbers don't immediately validate it.

The right-hander could bring a unique skill set to the No.3 position, particularly under the challenging conditions of a pink-ball Test. In the first Test at Perth, Rahul, who played as an opener showcased his ability to grind down bowlers and patiently negotiated the new ball.

He scored 26 runs in the first innings before he was controversially dismissed. However, he turned up the ante in the second innings, scoring 77 runs to his name. His clarity in shot selection and composure at the crease might come in handy, especially if an early wicket falls.