Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh feels that KL Rahul is the best middle-order batter Team India currently has in ODIs. He said that the Indian white-ball vice-captain should regularly play at that position.
Rohit Sharma’s absence in the South Africa series made KL Rahul open the batting for the team in the ODIs. However, with regular skipper back in the side, Rahul played at No.4 in the recently concluded second ODI against West Indies as Rishabh Pant was promoted at the top due to Shikhar Dhawan’s availability.
KL Rahul played a decent innings in the second game of the ongoing series against the West Indies. The right-hander scored 49 runs, smashing 4 fours and 2 sixes as well. His knock ended disappointingly as a mix-up between him and Suryakumar Yadav saw him back in the hut.
Read Also: Ruturaj Gaikwad out of isolation after recovering from COVID-19
Rahul has had great success batting in the middle order for India. The 29-year old since January 2019 has averaged 64 in ODIs and has also smashed two centuries along with four half-centuries.
In a discussion on Star Sports, Harbhajan Singh lavished rich praise on KL Rahul, saying that Team India doesn’t have a bigger player than him at No.5 or No.6.
"He [Rahul] is a complete player and I have no second thoughts that Team India do not have a bigger player than him at No. 5 or No. 6 at the moment. I feel he should be regularly played at this position," Harbhajan said.
Harbhajan said that it’s a great sign for Team India if KL Rahul bats in the middle order as he’s an experienced player and is a great striker of the ball in the death overs.
He added that it’s a blessing in disguise for the team if Rahul is not getting a chance at the top of the order.
Read Also: Dinesh Karthik praises Rohit Sharma’s ‘brave move’ which changed 2nd ODI in India's favor
"If KL Rahul doesn't open and bats in the middle order, it is a great sign for Team India because he is such an experienced player, he plays spin very well. If he plays the last ten overs, there won't be a better striker than him.
“I feel it is a blessing in disguise that he is not getting a chance to bat at the top of the order. Rishabh Pant or Shikhar Dhawan, once he comes back, should be part of the opening pair,” he said.
Harbhajan Singh further said that KL Rahul should bat in the middle order along with Suryakumar Yadav. He added that the right-hander has all the shots and will score a lot of runs.
"He [Rahul] should come in the middle order and if he bats with Surya there, I feel he will score a lot of runs. He plays excellent drives and along with that uses his feet very well, uses the crease to go back, pulls the ball if it is slightly short, has a very good cut shot, plays the ball late," he said.
KL Rahul was rested for the final ODI against West Indies with a niggle. The dead-rubber third match will be played on Friday (11th February) at the same venue.
(Star Sports inputs)
