Former Indian Test opener Sadagopan Ramesh has showered praise on KL Rahul for his consistency in ODI cricket. Ramesh said Rahul deserves to be in the top four of the batting order but he bats at number five or six for the team.

Rahul scored a brilliant knock of 112 runs off 92 balls with the help of 11 fours and one six at a strike rate of 121.74 while batting at number five.

India were in a spot of bother at 118-4 on a slow pitch however, Rahul played an impressive knock for the home team. Rahul added 73 runs with Ravindra Jadeja and helped India steady the ship.

Ramesh, the former flamboyant batter, said Rahul should be mentioned in the same bracket as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as he has the skills to score centuries consistently if he bats higher in the order.

Sadagopan Ramesh said on Star Sports, “He belongs in the top four of the batting order. He scores a hundred once every ten innings only because of the lack of opportunities. Otherwise, he has the ability to score many centuries. We’ve fit him into that No.6 for a crisis. But he belongs in that 100s league like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.”

The former left-handed batter said he has always wanted Rahul to bat up the order for the team.

“Because it’s these milestones we remember at the end of the career. And he’s very capable of achieving these milestones. I’ve always wanted KL Rahul to bat up the order. But if you ask yourself whether anyone else can do a job in a crisis at No.6, the answer will be no. So, because of that, you need KL Rahul only there, and it’s working as of now. But he should be in the same top shelf as Virat and Rohit,” said Ramesh (via the aforementioned source).

The third ODI between India and New Zealand will be played at Indore on Sunday.