KL Rahul’s Experience Trumps Sarfaraz Khan’s Form for India’s No. 5 Spot
Former Indian cricketer Kris Srikkanth has advocated for KL Rahul to retain his position as India’s No. 5 batsman in the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, despite Sarfaraz Khan’s impressive performances earlier this year.
Rahul missed the majority of the England Test series due to injury, allowing Sarfaraz to step in and score 200 runs at an average of 50. However, Srikkanth believes Rahul’s experience and overseas success make him the better choice for the No. 5 spot.
“Honestly, I feel bad for Sarfaraz Khan,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel. “But this happens, at times, in Test cricket. You would have been playing well, but when a big player returns, you will have to lose your place.”
Srikkanth also highlighted the upcoming Australia series, where Rahul’s experience in overseas conditions will be crucial. “At the back of the mind, they are also keeping the Australia series. New Zealand are also coming. KL Rahul has performed well overseas, in Australia he has done well,” he added.
Rahul’s recent scores of 37 and 57 in the Duleep Trophy further strengthen his case for selection. Meanwhile, India’s top four are set with Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli, while Rishabh Pant is expected to bat at No. 6 as the wicketkeeper.
Sarfaraz’s recent Duleep Trophy performance, where he scored 9 and 46, poses a tough decision for the selectors ahead of the Bangladesh series. However, Srikkanth’s comments suggest that Rahul is the frontrunner for the No. 5 spot.
The Indian team aims to present their strongest team in this series and future tours against New Zealand and Australia. Rahul’s experience and overseas success make him a valuable asset to the team, and he is likely to retain his place in the batting order for the first Test against Bangladesh.
