KL Rahul was disappointing in the first Test against New Zealand and came up with ordinary figures, especially when the team needed him the most. In the first innings he got out for a duck after facing six balls as Will O’Rourke got the better of him. In the second innings, he got out for 12 in almost similar fashion as O’Rourke removed him with Blundell taking a comfortable grab.
With that being said, there have been calls about KL Rahul being dropped from the Indian team for the second Test in order to accommodate a better option. As Shubman Gill is doing fine now, it is expected that he will make his way back to the team.
However, who will bear the expense of Gill coming back, that is still unclear. Here are three reasons why India should not drop KL Rahul from the second Test.
#1 Experienced campaigner
Despite the lack of runs in recent times, KL Rahul can always be just one good innings away from returning to form. The kind of strokeplay that Rahul comes to the game with, if he is able to get rid of the early jitters, he might just be unstoppable for the rest of the game. The experience that he has under his belt can be a big boon for India, also considering the fact that he can keep wickets with another blow to Rishabh Pant’s knee in the first Test.
#2 Versatility reigns supreme
KL Rahul is one such cricketer who can be asked to bat anywhere in the innings. He is a floater and more importantly, he is extremely versatile. Whether asked to open or come out at number six, he will do so without breaking a sweat. And just in case if India decides to get Rahul at number three, considering the kind of hefty preceding reputation that he has, he won’t mind that either.
#3 Can score extremely fast
In the first innings of the second Test against Bangladesh, India needed someone who could keep the momentum alive. Alongside Virat Kohli who cruised at will, KL Rahul stepped up. With the kind of conditional play that has been the norm of the hour, KL Rahul houses the flair of anchoring the innings while going heavy after the bowlers if needed, thereby keeping India’s momentum intact.
