On a day that was an optional practice session for the team, Cheteshwar Pujara and KL Rahul made their way to the ground to have a bat at the nets. Both batsmen looked in good touch trying to get their rhythm going ahead on the eve of the second Test. KL Rahul who had to miss out on the first Test at Galle due to an illness spent some quality time honing his skills getting throw downs from the net bowlers and the support staff. Head coach Ravi Shastri had earlier said that the team was keeping a close watch on Rahul’s progress and the management looked quite happy with Rahul’s fitness and intent leading up to the 2nd Test. Captain Virat Kohli didn’t spill the beans on the exact combination for the match but did hint at getting Rahul back in the playing eleven. “KL has been our established opener. I feel one of the openers will have to make way for KL because, what he's done in the past two years for us has been very solid,” Kohli said. “He deserves to come back and start fresh in Test cricket again. It is up to discussions. We have a team meeting later on, after practice. We will be able to clarify that then, but yes, according to me KL will definitely come back into the eleven.” If Rahul is back, either of the two openers, Abhinav Mukund or Shikhar Dhawan will have to sit out. Dhawan scored a massive 190 in the first innings of the first Test while Abhinav showed what he was capable of in the second innings scoring a gutsy 81. It is a good problem to have for the captain but Kohli assured, a decision would be taken in the best interest of the team. “In a situation like this, you need to sit down and think which player has had more impact on the game. Who has been able to sort of make that difference in the game straightaway. It all depends on who has had a better game, to be honest. It’s a pretty thin line, it is a very small margin but unfortunately, that is how the sport goes sometimes and things happen in a team environment, in the dynamics of a team which. As I said, the guy who sits out will understand the reasons behind it. Not to say that those people are not being backed but it’s whatever the best combination we as a team feel we should take on the field, we back that and we take that call. It is up to the individuals who are involved in that decision to understand it is for the best interest of the team. The guys are professional enough to know that but I think in a scenario like this, you will always think of a guy who has had more impact on setting up the game or winning the game for the team.” Kohli had full confidence in Rahul’s ability as an impact player. Clearly, he has been in a rich vein of form even when he had to sit out owing to an injury. He has six half centuries in his last seven innings and for Kohli and Co. it was important to back a player of that talent and ability. “He played the practice game and he looked really solid. He has batted really well in the last couple of seasons for us. It is very important for us to make him feel that this is his spot and It won’t be changed because of unfortunate events that happen outside of the playing field or the injuries that you can’t control. “That phase you have to come back, get stronger. He has really stuck it out in that phase. It’s been hard for him, we all know that, because he was batting so well and then he was out because of this (illness). It is very important to make him feel secure and he deserves it because he has given us those big performances when the team has required the most. He is a guy that needs to be backed and we as a team, as management and me as captain all back him hundred percent.”