KL Rahul’s struggles have continued unabated, raising concerns about his place in India’s Test squad. The veteran batter has failed to make a significant impact in recent outings, prompting a warning from the team management.
In the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai, Rahul managed only 16 off 52 deliveries in the first innings and 22 not out off 19 in the second. His performance was particularly disappointing given the presence of Sarfaraz Khan, a proven performer in subcontinent conditions, waiting in the wings.
Rahul’s struggles extend beyond the Chennai Test. In his sole Duleep Trophy outing before that, he scored 37 off 111 and 57 off 121 deliveries, raising eyebrows with his labored approach.
A BCCI official has reportedly stated that Rahul has been in “kind of a shell,” with his performance in both the Duleep Trophy and the Chennai Test being a cause for concern.
Former India left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi believes that Rahul can redeem himself by spending more time at the crease. “His numbers in Tests abroad speak for themselves,” Joshi said. “He just needs to spend more time at the crease which will lead to runs, whoever the opposition is, because he has every shot in his armoury.”
Joshi emphasized the importance of Rahul consuming more deliveries to develop the necessary red-ball intent. “He needs to consume more number of balls just to feel the red-ball intent because red-ball cricket is played session-wise,” Joshi explained.
With the second Test against Bangladesh approaching, Rahul’s place in the XI is under threat. If he fails to improve his performance, he could face the prospect of being dropped from the squad.
