Dinesh Karthik opens up on KL Rahul’s batting position, says he has got the skillset to manage no.6 slot

Former Indian wicket-keeper bat Dinesh Karthik has opened up on KL Rahul’s batting position and backed the flamboyant batter to even deliver for the team while batting at number six. In the first two ODIs against England, Rahul batted at number six but didn’t get many deliveries to face.

He scored a decent knock of 40 runs off just 29 balls in the final ODI against the visitors while batting at number five. Rahul scored a crucial knock of 41 runs off 47 balls while batting at number six in the Champions Trophy clash against Bangladesh.

The team’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has been backing Axar Patel at number five as the left-hander is doing a decent job. Patel had returned with scores of 41* and 52 in the first two matches against England.

“Ideally KL Rahul should bat at No.5, it is good. But I don’t mind No.6 as well, he’s got the skillset to manage. The left-handed batter in the middle does provide a different dimension to Team India’s batting, so I can understand. KL Rahul will be fine, don’t worry. He is a solid player, he will come good,” Dinesh Karthik said on Cricbuzz.

Meanwhile, the former stumper reckons India will make at least two to three changes to their playing XI for the clash against New Zealand on Sunday as they have already secured their semifinals bert.

“I have a feeling there will at least be 2-3 changes. Strangely, I feel Varun Chakravarthy might play. I don’t think there will be some, there will be many changes, taking into account that two days from then, there is a semi-final. So, I don’t think they will play a full-strength side,” Karthik opined.

India will next take on New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on 2nd March.