There are a lot of talks going on regarding India’s team combination for the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, starting December 4 in Dhaka.

On the eve of the opening ODI, veteran India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik batted for KL Rahul to excel in the middle-order keeping the next year’s 50-over World Cup in mind.

Rahul endured an underwhelming T20 World Cup 2022 campaign, failing to score in crucial games against Pakistan, South Africa and England. He received a lot of flak for his conservative approach in the powerplay overs.

Rahul is competing for the opening spot with Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, who are non-negotiable for Karthik. Hence, he slotted Rahul to bat at No. 5 after Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer.

“A few players stand out to me who are going to be a part of the playing XI. For me, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are non-negotiable, they will open. Virat Kohli will be at three. Four, Shreyas Iyer, just the magnitude of performances in ODI cricket in the recent past," Karthik told Cricbuzz.

“(Number) five is where we need to discuss. There will be toss-up between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. I have a feeling that KL Rahul will play, for sure. Pant, I think, has taken a long flight from New Zealand and has landed as we speak. KL Rahul will be a proper middle-order batsman for the fifty-over World Cup. If that happens, they will fit him at number five,” he added.

The Indian team management has used KL Rahul as a middle-order option in the past and the right-hander produced impressive results as well. He has played 10 innings at No. 5, scoring 453 at an average of 56.62 with one century and four fifties.