Rocchiccioli, bowling his first over in the third innings, drifted a back of length ball towards the leg stump. In an error of judgement, Rahul, batting on 10, didn’t offer a shot. The ball deflected off the inside of his front pad and went through his legs onto the stumps. The off bail fell off as Rahul’s 44-ball vigil came to an end. India slipped to 44-4 after bowling Australia for 223 in response to 161 in their first innings.

In the first innings, he had managed a run-a-ball four, also opening the innings. The move indicates India could promote Rahul, whom they backed to come good at No.6 no so long back, up the order if Rohit Sharma misses the Perth Test against Australia. Abhimanyu Easwaran, also in contention for the stand-in opener’s role, didn’t do anything notable, making a duck and 17.

Watch KL Rahul's bizarre dismissal here:

"Don't know what he was thinking!"

Oops... that's an astonishing leave by KL Rahul 😱 #AUSAvINDA pic.twitter.com/e4uDPH1dzz

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 8, 2024