Strengthening the core: Rahul answers the call

Batter shows he can be the anchor when India need middle and lower-order resistance, especially with India to host the World Cup in Oct-Nov

- Somshuvra Laha

KOLKATA: The asking rate doesn't matter in a 189-run chase. The equation was simple for Australia on Friday - they needed 10 wicket-taking balls. They got five of them on target by the 20th over and the odds were heavily in favour of Australia getting the rest also cheaply. But KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, the last recognised batting pair, stayed put and got the job done.

Australia captain Steve Smith was on point when he said: "We were always one partnership from them beating us, and Jadeja and Rahul did that."

The individual wins need to be noted here first. Rahul was going through a run drought unlike any in his career, one that brought some pretty hard-hitting criticism, possibly prompted his removal as vice-captain and made him dispensable to the Test core. Ravindra Jadeja's skills don't need annual validation but an injury layoff can always stoke concern even to the best of cricketers. Which is why this left-right partnership basically an undertaking that India's batting won't end with the top-five - is the kind of assurance India need in a year they are hosting the World Cup.