Former India captain Kapil Dev has given a brutal assessment of current Test vice-captain KL Rahul’s form and said that if the batter doesn’t fit in the playing XI, he should be dropped from the team. This came ahead of the first Test between India and Australia which will be played in Nagpur.
The result of the four-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 will decide the finalists of the ICC World Test Championship which will be played at the Oval in England.
During Team India's first official press conference of the series on Tuesday, KL Rahul addressed the topic as well, admitting that the management is indeed having a headache trying to figure out the best 11 players. Will Rahul or Shubman Gill open with Rohit Sharma?
Amidst these talks, Kapil Dev raised an interesting point about KL Rahul. He has been backed to the hilt by the Indian team management and despite his poor returns in Tests in 2022, it seems that Rahul will once again open with Rohit, which will then leave no room for Shubman Gill.
"Why can't he be dropped? There should be no such rule. You need to look at team combination, who do we need. There is no necessity. In Indian cricket, I don't think there is ever a vice-captain. Back in the day, we had a new VC in every Test match. He is a very matured player; I even like him," Kapil said on Uncut.
On current form, Gill should undoubtedly be the one to open. He has already scored a century and a double century in ODIs this year, to go with a maiden hundred in T20Is against New Zealand and a Test hundred against Bangladesh as well.
"I consider him to be a fine batter but if he doesn't fit in the team, then let it be. The team comes first and I guess for that the captain and the management needs to take a call. Some players are lucky. Rahul Dravid too played many such matches where he was made to keep wicket,” Kapil added.
It remains to be seen whether Rahul opens the innings with Rohit and whether Shubman Gill is slotted in the middle order.
