His off-form has continued in this Australia series as well, as the batter has managed only 37 runs in the three innings of the Australia series so far.
Former India bowler Venkatesh Prasad has been quite vocal about KL Rahul in recent times. Venkatesh Prasad questioned KL Rahul’s inclusion in India’s Test Team earlier, and has continued his attack even in the second Test.
Prasad took to Twitter on Saturday after KL Rahul departed cheaply yet again in the first innings, scoring just 17 runs.
“And the torrid run continues. More to do with rigidity of the management to persist with a player who just hasn’t looked the part. No top order batsman in atleast last 20 years of Indian cricket has played these many tests with such a low average. His inclusion is..” Prasad wrote on Twitter.
And the torrid run continues. More to do with rigidity of the management to persist with a player who just hasn’t looked the part. No top order batsman in atleast last 20 years of Indian cricket has played these many tests with such a low average. His inclusion is …. https://t.co/WLe720nYNJ
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) February 18, 2023
He compared the likes of Shiv Sunder Das and Sadagopan Ramesh, whose careers were curtailed despite having a better Test record than KL Rahul. The former India bowler went on to criticise the Indian selection procedure for not giving enough chances to players like Sarfaraz Khan, who has been a serial performer in the domestic tournaments.
“His inclusion shakes belief in Justice. SS Das had great potential,so did S Ramesh,both avgd 38+but did not get beyond 23 test matches. Rahul’s consistent inclusion gives an impression of lack of batting talent in India which isn’t true. Last 5 years his avg is below 27 in 47 inn,” he added.
Still considered by management as the second best Test opener in a country with so much batting talent. https://t.co/ipanuYBTKL
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) February 18, 2023
But Prasad has found himself under the wrath of former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra, who has replied and hit out at the former bowler, accusing Prasad of his ‘timing of the criticism’. He took to Twitter and replied to Venkatesh Prasad’s tweet.
KL Rahul Last 10 Test Innings: India batter’s lean patch continues as he falls cheaply in Delhi Test
Venky Bhai, Test match chal raha hai. How about, at least, waiting for both the innings to get over. All of us are in the same team i.e. Team India. Not asking you to hold back your thoughts but timing could be a little better. After all, our game is all about the ‘timing’ 🙏 https://t.co/HvxtRQxQDn
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 19, 2023
But KL Rahul has found himself in further trouble as he departed for just 1 run in the second innings. It will be an interesting thing to see whether he keeps his place in the third Test, which will take place in Indore from March 1.
