New Delhi: India went 1-0 up in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Test series against Australia in Nagpur on Saturday, but former India seam bowler Venkatesh Prasad feels a major talking point from the three days of play is the continued selection of vice-captain and opening batsman K.L. Rahul.
Taking to Twitter on Saturday morning, a couple of hours before the troika of R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel spun India to the resounding victory, Prasad questioned Rahul’s place in the side and stated that his “performances have been well below par” in Test cricket, relative to his talent.
I have a lot of regard for KL Rahul’s talent and ability, but sadly his performances have been well below par. A test average of 34 after 46 tests and more than 8 years in international cricket is ordinary. Can’t think of many who have been given so many chances. Especially..cont
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) February 11, 2023
“A test average of 34 after 46 tests and more than 8 years in international cricket is ordinary. Can’t think of many who have been given so many chances. Especially when there are so many waiting in the wings & in top form,” Prasad tweeted, naming Shubman Gill, Hanuma Vihari, Mayank Agarwal and Sarfaraz Khan as worthy candidates to replace Rahul.
Rahul was dismissed cheaply for 20 in India’s only batting innings in the Nagpur Test match, getting out caught and bowled to Australia’s off-spin debutant Todd Murphy. Rahul’s was the first of seven wickets taken by Murphy, who finished with sensational bowling figures of 7-124.
Prasad said that Rahul is not the ideal selection as the designated vice-captain of the Test team. Ashwin has a “great cricketing brain” and should be made deputy of captain Rohit Sharma instead, he added.
The reason for the repeated opportunities afforded to Rahul is “favouritism”, with people afraid to call it out due to the risk of losing lucrative IPL commentary and punditry contracts, Prasad alleged, although he did not provide any evidence for the same.
“They wouldn’t want to rub the captain of a franchisee (the) wrong way, as in today’s age most people like yes men and blind approvers. Often well-wishers are your best critics but times have changed and people don’t want to be told the truth,” Prasad lamented.
The right-hand opening batsman is the captain of Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Averaging 34.07 from 46 matches, Rahul enjoyed his best years in Test cricket in 2016 and 2017, when his batting averages were nearly 60 and 49. A significant decline in scores followed in 2018 and 2019, as he scored just one century and half-century each in 15 tests.
After missing out on crucial series away to Australia and at home to England, Rahul then had a resurgent 2021, averaging 46 in 5 Tests and featuring match-winning centuries away to England and South Africa. However, save for a fifty in a losing cause in January 2022, injuries and loss of form plagued Rahul again, as his average for the 2022-23 period dipped below 20.
India and Australia now head to Delhi for the second Test, scheduled for 17-21 February, at Arun Jaitley Stadium, with Rahul expected to keep his place in the lineup.
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