KL Rahul has left everyone confused and baffled very much by his choice of opening for his IPL franchise, Lucknow Super Giants, while also doing wicket-keeping, even though everyone feels the only way for Rahul to get into India’s T20 World Cup team is to bat in the middle-order.
With India’s top order in T20Is already fixed – Rohit and either Jaiswal/Gill, followed by Kohli (very likely) and Suryakumar Yadav – the BCCI selectors will be keeping eye on wicket-keeper batters who bat in the middle-order, for example, Jitesh Sharma, Sanju Samson, who still bats at number 3 for Rajasthan but is adept in finishing games, and Dinesh Karthik is gradually making a strong case.
KL Rahul certainly carries the ambition of playing in the T20 World Cup in June, and hence, he’s taken the gloves at LSG ahead of Quinton de Kock and Nicholas Pooran. However, interestingly, Rahul has continued to open the innings for his franchise – he opened in LSG’s first match against RR in Jaipur, and is likely to do in their second match as well, on Saturday against Punjab.
Former India batsman and now commentator Aakash Chopra is left baffled by this choice from the LSG captain. In his YouTube video, Chopra said Rahul should bat in the middle-order for LSG and look to finish games, and that is how, he added, he will be able to send a message to the BCCI selectors.
Chopra said, “The focus will once again be on KL Rahul. If you ask me personally, and you know that I like the boy, but I am thinking that if he is going to open, it doesn’t matter whether he keeps or not.
“If you want to give an audition for the T20 World Cup and want to use this as a platform, you will have to bat down the order but Rahul is not doing that.”
If KL Rahul realizes his potential, he is a delight to watch: Chopra
The issue with Rahul opening was further the same – his lack of intent and his will to play risk-averse and conservative cricket initially, looking to set in first and then explode. This tactic backfired against RR when he scored 58 (44) in the chase of 194. His slow knock put LSG so much behind in the chase that even Pooran’s blast of 64* (41) couldn’t bring LSG close to the target.
On this, Chopra opined, “If Rahul is going to bat at the top only, from that game point of view and a 600-run season point of view, the focus will once again be on him because he is the captain and it will be better if he scores runs.
“The team needs him to finish games. If KL Rahul realizes his potential, he is a delight to watch, and I want to see that sort of batting – absolutely destructive.”
Also Read: “As Long As Virat Kohli Is In The Team RCB Can’t Win IPL Trophy”
