Legendary Sunil Gavaskar showered praise on KL Rahul for helping Yashasvi Jaiswal ease up after his fine knock on the second day of the opening Test at Perth. After Rahul scored a solid knock of 26 runs in testing conditions in the first innings, the flamboyant batter scored an unbeaten knock of 62 runs on the second day’s play.

Rahul added a brilliant alliance of 172 runs with his opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored an unbeaten knock of 90 runs. Gavaskar reckons the youngster flowered while playing with KL Rahul as the latter took more pressure on himself.

Rahul has looked solid in both innings so far and a lot of credit goes to him as he has been under the pump for his ordinary performances in the recent past.

Speaking to Star Sports, Sunil Gavaskar said, “I think what he’s done is he’s eased up the pressure on Yashasvi Jaiswal. When you have a partner at the other end, who is looking so secure like Rahul is doing, then the other partner who’s probably got more strokes, who is a little more adventurous can play his shots, and that’s what happened. So, Yashasvi Jaswal has actually flowered in his company.”

The Little Master reckons Rahul didn’t miss on any scoring opportunity. Rahul has so far struck four boundaries in his unbeaten knock.

“You can say that because he’s seen the solidity of Rahul. Rahul hasn’t missed out on the scoring opportunity when the ball has been pitched up. He’s driven it gloriously through the covers. There is this straight drive that he played of Pat Cummins as, well brilliant. It’s been a very, very good innings. It’s been what you would call a proper five-day test match innings.”

India ended the second day’s play with a healthy lead of 218 runs.