KL Rahul, one of the most uncertain names in Indian Test cricket in recent days, contributed 84 runs until he left to an absolute blinder from Nathan Lyon giving a catch to Steve Smith in the slip on day 4 at The Gabba. Rahul was the only positive in an unfathomable batting collapse where the batters struggled to get double digits themselves until Jadeja came. He had Ravindra Jadeja on the side, kept his head steady, and gifted the fans some classic clean shots before leaving. However, KL's life on the crease came under the big question mark when he faced Pat Cummins's extra bounce towards outside off. KL, out of his reflex, tried to defend the ball that went high to his waist but got deflected off his bat to Smith at the second slip. Shockingly, Smith spilled the regulation catch, granting KL Rahul a crucial lifeline. However, the Australian star didn’t have to wait long to make amends. In the 43rd over, Smith produced a moment of magic at slip off Lyon’s bowling. Rahul, looking to punch a length delivery, edged the ball to Smith’s right. Diving one-handed, Smith clutched onto an absolute magic, silencing the earlier frustration, ending Rahul’s gritty 84-run knock. Smith’s resilience and sharp reflexes underlined why he remains one of the finest slip fielders in modern cricket. Watch Kl Rahul's dismissal WHAT A CATCH FROM STEVE SMITH!Sweet redemption after dropping KL Rahul on the first ball of the day.#AUSvIND | #PlayOfTheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/d7hHxvAsMd — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 17, 2024 KL Rahul—the bird who got his wings back? Despite repeated struggles, the Indian team dared to drop the biggies from the team. KL Rahul, who has throughout been a flamboyant opener for India, has sacrificed his consistency by being shuffled now and then. However, the bloke never complained, telling that he simply wants to be a part of the playing XI. Nevermind, even the commentators agree that KL is picture perfect, at least in the ongoing Australian tour. If someone looks clean with the shots, after Kohli or Rohit Sharma, it's the "denied" Kannur Lokesh Rahul, be it a straight drive at Perth or a cover drive at The Gabba. Read also: Jasprit Bumrah’s Witty Reply on India’s Batting at The Gabba A few criticisms broke out when critics advocated for KL to shift somewhere else (again) and bring Rohit at the top—something called leading from the front. Was Rohit right? Probably yes, because Rahul almost was saving a humiliating follow-on at that field where the Indian broke Aussie pride in their last tour. Barring the young debutant Nitish Reddy, who has been undoubtedly explosive since his arrival, India had no batting sollution. Abhishek Nayar, the batting coach whom the Indian Head Coach Gautam Gambhir dragged in forcefully from the KKR camp, can be under immense scrutiny—what just happened to all of them? Kohli, who looked to leave the outside off stump balls during practice, became prey to the same thing here at Gabba! Speaking of Rahul, the Perth gave him an unjust (definitely unjust) out in the first inning; despite that, it was him who looked comfortable when the other side collapsed. Just one bad outing in Adelaide, and he was questioned again. Again in Brisbane, he justified himself, having the batting maestro Sunil Gavaskar describe him, saying, "He is very still at crease. There is a little trigger movement, but his head is upright, and that's the reason why he is able to judge where the off-stump is, and leave those deliveries. And that is so essential." Flaunting some KL Rahul records in the SENA countries Year Field Runs 2021 Lord's 129 2021 Centurion 123 2015 Sydney Cricket Ground 110 2023 Centurion 101 2024 Gabba 84 2021 Nottingham 84 2024 Perth 77 2022 Johannesburg 50