India vice-captain KL Rahul’s performance with the bat has been below-par in recent times. Rahul has scored 1, 17, and 20 in his last three innings while his last 25+ run knock came 10 innings back. He has been a vulnerable part of India’s batting order in recent times. Despite Rahul’s dipping performance team management is showing trust in him. He has been preferred over inform Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav in the second Test. Now India Captain Rohit Sharma also backed him and called it hard to score on these pitches.
Speaking in a post-match press conference Indian skipper said, “Of late there has been a lot of talk about his (KL Rahul) batting. As the management, we look at the potential of any individual, not just KL, and players with potential will get extended runs. Batting at Lord’s on a damp wicket, it was one of the best hundreds I have seen, Centurion also, so he has potential and we are backing him.”
On the other hand, the Head coach of the Indian Team Rahul Dravid also backed Rahul and said that he need to go through the process. “KL Rahul has been one of our most successful overseas openers. He’s got hundred in South Africa and England so we’ll continue to back him. I believe he has the quality and class to come out of this phase,” stated the Indian head coach.
Aakash Chopra and Venkatesh Prasad engaged in a war of words over Rahul’s performance
Meanwhile, the backing of KL Rahul didn’t go well with fans and former players. Former pacer Venkatesh Prasad questioned team management and KL Rahul for his performance. He called his selection biased and not based on performance. He also slammed commentators and former players for not speaking for the team.
Now, cricketer turned commentator Aakash Chopra questioned the timing of his tweets and termed it ‘adding fuel to the fire.’ Quoting Prasad’s tweet Chopra said, “Venky Bhai, Test match chal raha hai. How about, at least, waiting for both innings to get over? All of us are on the same team i.e. Team India. Not asking you to hold back your thoughts but the timing could be a little better. After all, our game is all about the ‘timing.’”
Meanwhile, fans also bashed Indian team management for backing KL Rahul. A Twitter user slammed Captain Sharma and asked to make special pitches for Rahul.
Here are some Tweets:
2 min main out 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/ccHjLCxm7R
— Virat Kohli Fan Club (@vkfanclub007) February 19, 2023
To mat khilao aisi pitch pe, uske liye special pitch banwao fir khila lena us lodu ko 😡
— मान सिंह खुराना (@LogicalMusaafir) February 19, 2023
try gill and check your statement again
— Shau (@shxuryaa) February 19, 2023
Nathan Lyon scored more than him on the same pitch in 2nd innings.
— R (@KLmyidolo) February 19, 2023
This series is even not the place to search form.
— Govind Varma (@varmagovind0507) February 19, 2023
Oops. Rohit didn't tell this to Axar and Ashwin, so they scored few runs.
— Tejas (@UtdTej) February 19, 2023
Gauti :"Tension mat le, Rohit- Dravid se baat kar Li hai. Agli match mai Kam Hagiyo bas. " (Sources – Zewz Newz)
🙂 pic.twitter.com/Ll6RAVBmAB— DJOKER♠️ (@AniketN_79) February 19, 2023
Wtf!! 😂 Rohit Sharma blaming the pitches cause B-KL Rahul couldn't score runs.
— Thara Bhai Joginder (@Joginder___) February 19, 2023
Nice explanation pic.twitter.com/m12QgXQzW1
— NiL (@_skyxvi) February 19, 2023
Indirectly saying KLol is flat track bully 🤣
— Aryan_45 🇮🇳 (@Aryan4593) February 19, 2023
Gill was on top notch form 🔥💥💥💥 pic.twitter.com/neloxlAPhE
— దేవర #NBK108 #NTR30 (@balayya_vamsi) February 19, 2023
Contribution of KL in this match:- pic.twitter.com/icDqEUdn6t
— Harshit (@Here4virat18) February 19, 2023
