Dear KL Rahul,
An Open Letter To KL Rahul : You know a couple of years back when you smashed that century in Lords, the world knew the colossus that you were. The world knew that you would put any bowler to sleep without a second thought. The world knew that you would leave a trail of destruction behind you when you get your eyes in. The world knew that India had a plethora of batters who can take the bowlers head on and you were the right man for a job that would allow you to spearhead the nation or at least be the deputy to the one who leads.
Cut to 2023 and now there are experts who are fighting for you to get the axe. Somehow, you seem unfazed as if you have been given a quota in the Indian cricket team. What is wrong with you, KL? Where did that hunger in your eyes go? Where did all that timing that made you the star that you ‘were’ disappear?
KL Rahul, you know I am one of your biggest votaries and yet it pains me so much to see you not just fall from grace but that body language of yours, it screams defeat, it screams resignation, it screams as if you have taken that hallowed spot in the Indian side for granted without even realising the fact that there is already a replacement and not just a replacement but very shortly you will not be coming close to that all important spot anymore.
You know KL Rahul, even Cheteshwar Pujara had somewhat of a slump like you have now. Virat Kohli had a similar slump a year back. Rohit Sharma had pains of his own and yet all of them found a way out. Either by taking a break or by playing county cricket. Well, how about Hardik Pandya for an example. His career was barely dangling by the line and now the titan that we see in front of us, we scream for his chance at being the Indian captain.
Rahul, having a poor run of form is very human. It is very natural. Falling down is a part of that long journey and especially for an athlete, you have to fall down a thousand times in order to get back up at least for once. That was never the problem. The problem is the lack of that zeal to try and fight back. The problem is your refusal to get back up.
KL, if you do not change your ways, even before you realise the door of the Indian cricket team will be slammed shut on your face only for never to open again. However, if you know that this place that you are so very easily relinquishing a thousand families tear apart only to bag that one spot, a thousand bones crack open, a thousand drops of blood are shed and yet they do not even come close.
Be careful, Rahul. The Indian team management won’t even look back because they don’t want to. They have the replacements and when the time comes knocking you will just be a needle in a haystack.
Yours sincerely,
A well-wisher.
