Former India Cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, recently, questioned the place of KL Rahul in the Indian Test squad. He feels that Rahul’s selection is based on favoritism and not on performance. Prasad’s comments came after India’s win against Australia in the first Test by innings and 132 runs. Now, the 1983 World Cup winner, Sunil Gavaskar has responded to Prasad’s comments.
For context, Prasad wrote on Twitter that Rahul has been unable to replicate his potential in the last eight years while in-form players like Shubman Gill are sitting out. The former India pacer also questioned former cricketers and experts for not speaking the truth about the issue and ignoring it. Responding to Prasad’s comments, little master, Sunil Gavaskar said that Rahul will play in the second Test also.
Speaking with India Today Gavaskar Said, “I feel the way he has batted in the last 1-2 years, he performed well. I feel he should be given one more chance. I’m sure he will be backed for the Test match in Delhi. After that you can give it a thought because you have an in-form batter ready to replace him, Shubman Gill,” he said.
‘Team management believes in KL Rahul’- says former India Coach Madanlal
Former all-rounder Madanlal who also was part of the conversation said that even team management is set to back Rahul in upcoming matches.
“He should get a chance. Even when Vikram Rathour had come to the press conference he had reminded me that he scored a century in South Africa. He does have the ability but he has been out of form lately…scoring against Australia is a big challenge in itself and getting those runs gives a morale boost. But he can be stuck here. However, based on his ability, he should get another chance,” he said.
Notably, India batting coach Vikram Rathour in a recent press conference expressed the team’s belief in KL Rahul. When he asked about Rahul’s performance, he said,
“To be fair to KL has scored two hundred in his last 10 Tests – one in England and another in South Africa and also has a couple of fifties. So yeah, I don’t think we are there.”
