Right time for KL Rahul to dominate Test cricket, says Manvinder Bisla

Manvinder Bisla has backed KL Rahul to emerge as a dominant force in Test cricket following the retirements of several senior Indian batters. Bisla observed that Rahul has operated in the shadow of established Test cricketers over his career, but now faces a fresh opportunity to establish himself as a leading figure in the longest format.

KL Rahul is currently vice-captain of the Indian Test team and is set to feature in the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka scheduled for August 2026, with the first Test beginning on August 15 at Galle. Rahul trained in Mumbai ahead of the squad's departure for the tour.

Now that legends like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, and Cheteshwar Pujara have stepped away from Test cricket, Bisla wants Rahul to dominate the longest format.

"Whenever we see KL Rahul, the thing that comes to mind is that he is a wonderful player. But when we talk about Test cricket, he was somewhere in the shadow of the big four: Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma. This is the right time to come out of the shadow and dominate Test cricket," Bisla said in his latest Instagram video.

How other Indian batters overcame overseas challenges

Bisla drew parallels with how other Indian batsmen have responded to challenging conditions and opposition attacks in overseas venues. He highlighted instances where established players overcame early struggles to deliver dominant performances in specific regions and against particular opponents.

"People questioned Virat Kohli's technique in overseas conditions. He did not have a very good England series, but then he completely dominated in Australia. Pujara also dominated in Australia by playing 1250 balls in a single series. The Australian bowlers were wondering how to get him out. Virender Sehwag batted exceptionally well in Sri Lanka in 2010 when Mendis was dominating," Bisla said.

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The former India wicketkeeper's comments suggest that Rahul possesses the technical ability and temperament to succeed in Test cricket despite earlier periods when other senior batsmen occupied the spotlight. With the retirements of Kohli, Sharma, Rahane and Pujara from the Test format, the landscape of Indian Test cricket has shifted, creating space for Rahul to assume a more prominent role in the team's batting lineup.