KL Rahul's promotion higher up the batting order has been due to regular captain Rohit Sharma's absence. The India skipper is on paternity leave.

It’s not likely to stick in memory, it might not even have been noticed in the first place, but the Indian takeaway from Perth on a sumptuous second day was served by KL Rahul. It was his carefully-curated walks half-way down the pitch to chat with his Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Makeshift opener KL Rahul repaid the faith India have showed in him despite recent struggles, helping to put the touring side in the driving seat against Australia in the first test in Perth on Saturday.