India’s domestic batting stalwart Wasim Jaffer was disappointed with KL Rahul’s poor form in Test cricket, saying there is no issue with the Karnataka batsmen’s technique, but it seems that the opener is caught in an unsolved jigsaw puzzle.

His place in the national Test squad came under the scanner following his continuous failures with the bat, averages 36.82 in the opening slot, featuring in 33 of the 36 games India last played.

In the recently-concluded Test series in the West Indies, Rahul managed just 101 runs at an average of 25.25 – which has left many former Indian cricketers baffled with Sourav Ganguly asking for his replacement at the top of the order.

While his mode of dismissals has left Jaffer baffled, the veteran batsman feels the right-hander need to express himself the way he expresses probably in first-class cricket to get back his game. Jaffer told reporters on Friday, “I feel a little bit disappointed with K L Rahul because he has got so much ability, he is one of the guys (players) who has got 100 in all three formats (of the game).”

He continued, “And his mode of dismissals make me a bit disappointed because he gets out very softly at times. He has got a lot of ability and that is why he is getting so many chances because people believe that he is going to come good. The way he gets out and the way he does not get that many runs, that surprises me...I feel somewhere he is missing those puzzles (sic) in his jigsaw.”

On being asked whether Rahul has been struggling with the mental aspect of the game, Jaffer said, “Definitely it could be one of those things. I feel he just holds himself back and doesn't express himself the way he expresses probably in first-class cricket, but the moment he goes into international cricket, I feel that he holds himself a little bit.”

Jaffer signed off by saying, “He has got the game, but somewhere I feel he does not express himself, the way he needs to. I think he needs to come out and back his game. Sometimes I feel he gets too defensive for no reason. He needs to score a lot more consistently.”

(With PTI Inputs)