KL Rahul is struggling for runs in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.
Despite his scores of 22, 23, 10 and 2 in an away two-Test series against Bangladesh in December 2022, Rahul was preferred in India’s starting XI over the in-form opening batter Shubman Gill.
However, the right-hander failed to repay the faith of the team management, registering scores of 20, 17 and 1 over the three innings. As a result, he is drawing flak from the fans and experts, with many of them questioning his place in the side.
After India’s six-wicket victory in Delhi Test, skipper Rohit Sharma said his opening partner needs to devise his own methods of scoring runs on turning tracks.
“When you are playing on pitches like these, you need to find your methods of scoring runs,” Rohit said about Rahul at the post-match press conference.
“Different individuals are part of this team and they will have different methods of scoring runs. We are not going to look too much into what one individual is doing. It is about how everyone needs to come together.
“It is a big series for us, so yeah that is my thought on KL,” he added.
While the Indian captain acknowledged that there has been a lot of talk about KL Rahul’s extended lean patch, he also mentioned that the latter’s potential is something that can’t be overlooked.
“Of late, there has been lot of talk on his batting. But for us as team management, we always look at the potential of any individual, not just KL. I have been asked in the past about lot of players. If a guy has potential, guys will get that extended run,” he said.
Rohit Sharma also touched upon Rahul’s stunning exploits in the testing conditions of England and South Africa.
“It is not just about KL, but anyone. If you look at couple of hundreds, he got outside India (England 2021 and SA 2022), one of the best I have seen from KL, especially the one at the Lord’s.
“Batting on that damp pitch in England, (that too) after losing the toss and put in to bat is never easy. He (Rahul) put a great performance there and Centurion was another one. India won both those games. That is the potential he has,” Rohit remarked.
He also revealed that the team management has advised Rahul to play his natural game.
“Of late there have been talks… it was clear from our side that we want him to go out and play his game.”
(With PTI Inputs)