India vs Zimbabwe: Fresh off the holster, young guns get a chance to fire

Also Read: India tour of Zimbabwe lacks star power, not talent

RCB didn’t play him in the first two game and when Rahul got a chance in the next, he scored only 30 in the next two. It was in Rajkot, a match Gujarat Lions, that Rahul can thank his luck. RCB initially picked Mandeep Singh but an injury forced him to sit out and Rahul was called up, minutes before the match. He scored 35-ball 51.

He scored three more fifties in the IPL and apart from the McClenaghan bouncer and his wicket-keeping, IPL went smoothly for him.

Also read: Dhoni’s young brigade set for Zim challenge

Rahul relied on his strengths and didn’t attempt any reckless shot that could cost him his wicket. He understood the situation and played second fiddle whenever necessary. There were cheeky shots behind the square and upper cuts that surprised many but not who have followed Karnataka cricket. He has played those shots for Karnataka on numerous occasions.

#TeamIndia members have arrived for the training session #ZIMvIND pic.twitter.com/DKZL7sMei6

— BCCI (@BCCI) 10 June 2016

Before IPL, Rahul was nursing an injury and didn’t have ideal preparation for the tournament. Rahul had impressed everyone in Tests but had a rather dull IPL 2015 with Sunrisers Hyderabad. Therefore, this IPL was important to establish himself as a player of the shorter format. He found it difficult to adapt but he managed.

He now has to adapt again, this time in ODIs. On Saturday, when India play Zimbabwe in the first ODI, Rahul will don the India jersey for the first time. He had transformed himself in the IPL for RCB and now he has to do it for India. Once again, he was on the verge of becoming a transformed batsmen as he did after his success in Tests.

Rahul, though, would not be the only one to adapt to the Blue jersey. Eyeing his first India cap, Yuzvendra Chahal, who like his RCB teammate impressed in the IPL, would like to make most of this opportunity.

Like Rahul, Chahal was the unsung hero in RCB’s campaign. Part of the set-up which was heavily criticised for the weak bowling, Chahal held his own. The leggie’s overs after the powerplay were crucial in RCB’s push for the elusive title.

For the Haryana lad, it was more of a been there, done that kind of scenario. He scalped 23 wickets in the 2015 edition and returned stronger, and smarter, for his 21 wickets in 2016.

Successful 2015 season earned him India ‘A’ call but this year gave him ‘the breakthrough’ as he was picked for the limited-overs series in Zimbabwe. Blame the green tracks in Lahli or presence of senior spinner Amit Mishra in the Haryana team, Chahal has had very limited game-time to show his worth in the longer format.

But it’s the coloured clothing which he has made his own in the last couple of years, RCB’s reds to be precise. A sharp turner of the ball, Chahal’s impressive googly gives him the extra edge in the format where batsmen are on the hunt for runs.

On the African safari, Chahal would hope for the same as this could well be the chance he was looking for since making his First Class debut in 2009. After cementing his reputation as Virat Kohli’s go-to man at RCB, Chahal now has the chance to make an impression under MS Dhoni.