Perhaps India is missing a trick which might come very handy on the South African tour. A lot has been about India’s opening woes. Another issue which is bothering India is Saha’s dismal performance with the bat. Saha’s services with the bat have been a miserable tale of innings now and it is hurting India badly.
What is also hurting India is the exclusion of KL Rahul from the playing eleven despite the fact that he has scored runs in Australia and West Indies. Technically too he is one of the better batsmen India has.
The fact that India wants to maintain a left-hand and right-hand combination at the top of the order, makes Dhawan the preferred choice. What is the solution then?
GIVE RAHUL THE KEEPING GLOVES
One trick which might come in very handy for India in South Africa is to try KL Rahul as a wicketkeeper. Saha has been in dismal form with the bat and if he continues this way then India would be left with no options but to look for alternatives. So, isn’t KL Rahul who has done wicketkeeper duties for RCB the obvious answer?
While everyone is talking about alternatives to MS Dhoni in limited overs cricket we also need to look at the alternatives to Saha. KL Rahul is just 25 years of age and if he is groomed nicely as a wicketkeeper he can turn out to be a great asset to the team. His batting technique is already textbook made and he can even contribute with the gloves.
This way you would have Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, as well as KL Rahul in the playing XI and things, would become really easy for India. This would give India a considerable chance to confront the South African challenge because you cannot miss out on a good batsman like KL Rahul.
Let Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay form a left hand and right-hand combination at the top of the order and let KL Rahul play lower in the order. KL Rahul doing keeper duties gives Indian batting a great balance rather than wasting one batting slot by giving it to Wriddhiman Saha.
Tell us what you feel about this suggestion, do you think India should try this trick, do you think this will work for India?
