Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth has questioned the team management for their decision to demote KL Rahul to number six in the batting order in the three-match ODI series against England. With Ishan Kishan and Washington Sundar batting ahead of Rahul, India’s number one choice wicket-keeper batted at number six in the two innings.
Rahul didn’t have a great series as he could only manage 13 runs in two innings at an average of 6.50. The flamboyant batter was dismissed after scoring 12 runs off eight deliveries in the third ODI at Lord’s while batting at number six.
Rahul was dismissed for a solitary run in the first ODI at Edgbaston, Birmingham and was not well for the second ODI.
Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube Channel, “Will anyone send KL Rahul at No.6 when chasing such a huge total? That guy has won you so much in tough run-chases. Just like you screwed up Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, now you are screwing up KL Rahul. Is Rahul a a No.6 or 7 batter? This is gross injustice. His body language also looked like someone nervous yesterday.”
“India needed someone to do the Jos Buttler role. That’s where Kishan and Shreyas Iyer got out rightaway. But if Rahul had gone in at No.4, he would have complimented Virat Kohli like they did a few times in the 2023 World Cup. Rahul is capable of accelerating easily. Instead, they sent him out to bat when the match was over. How was he possibly going to win the game needing 15 per over with Axar Patel?”
On the other hand, Srikkanth hailed Rohit Sharma for shutting down his critics after scoring a magnum opus knock of 138 runs off just 110 balls. Rohit’s future was questioned during the series but he let his bat do all the talking.
“He shut everybody up, including all of us. Just through yesterday, he has made himself the first name on the team sheet for the 2027 World Cup. It should be Gill, Rohit and Kohli fixed as the first three for the World Cup. Rohit played some unbelievable shots and even a few new shots that were indescribable,” said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).
“Once he smashed one pull six, it was always going to be his day. He took a special liking to Tongue. The way he took off after his first 50 showed why he is a white-ball king. The way he dominated, England were shivering in fear.”
Rohit will be next seen in the ODI series against the West Indies in September.
