Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir believes Team India should have given another chance to KL Rahul in the final T20I against England on Saturday.
Rahul had a horrid run in the first four T20Is as he could only muster 15 runs. Rahul’s scores in the series read as 1, 0, 0, 14.
Thus, Virat Kohli decided to open the innings with Rohit Sharma in the deciding match against the visitors. The team management also played with one extra bowler in T Natarajan and decided to drop KL Rahul. In fact, earlier the Indian skipper Virat Kohli and batting coach Vikram Rathour had put their weight behind KL Rahul.
Kohli added 94 runs for the opening alliance with Rohit Sharma and stated that he will like to open the innings with his deputy in the future games, thus putting doubts on KL Rahul’s place in the team.
Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir believes India did the right thing by playing six bowlers in the final T20I but they should have given another chance to KL Rahul.
“India went with six bowlers; I completely agree with that. Because India was always one bowler short. And the only way that could have been done was by dropping KL Rahul and picking a bowler. And that’s what they have done. But ideally, they should have given him another game. But they could not have fit him with six bowlers, had KL Rahul played this game,” said Gautam Gambhir while talking to ESPN Cricinfo.
Gambhir feels India will need to find a way to give more opportunities to KL Rahul as that is the only way to get him back to form. Rahul is a crucial player in the limited-overs format for the Indian team and he has done well for the team in the recent past, barring the T20I series against England.
“Dropping anyone will not do them any favour. He (Rahul) will have to play three ODIs. Someone is out of form; the only way you can bring them back is by giving them more opportunities. Because when you are sitting on the bench, it is not a good feeling. Because you know you have been dropped, and that feeling is not the best feeling,” Gautam Gambhir added.
On the other hand, Rohit Sharma had also backed KL Rahul in the post-match press conference and stated that he is one of the key players for the team in the white-ball format.
The first ODI will be played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on 23rd March behind closed doors.
