Since returning from injury, KL Rahul just hasn’t been the same for the Indian team. The opening batter struggled for runs against Zimbabwe and still looked off-coloured in the first couple of Asia Cup 2022 matches.
In the first couple of games of the Asia Cup 2022, Rahul failed to get going. He was dismissed for a duck against Pakistan and could only score a 39-ball 36 in the second match against Hong Kong. The opening batter has now been issued a warning by the legendary Sunil Gavaskar.
Keeping the T20 World Cup 2022 in mind, Gavaskar feels Shubman Gill can be a great alternative to Rahul, especially considering the form he showed against West Indies and Zimbabwe.
“See, Shubman Gill has batted so brilliantly in Zimbabwe and West Indies so there definitely is a stiff fight for the opening slot, the fight is tough. So if you aren’t scoring runs and not in form then it’s concerning. It’s a matter of the World Cup, where you should only take players who are in form,” Gavaskar said on Sports Tak.
Not just Gill, the likes of Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad, etc. are waiting in the wings for consistent opportunities at the top. If Rahul’s form doesn’t improve, Gavaskar feels the selectors could look to replace him with another player.
“There is no scope of taking a chance with someone there, hoping that after 2-3 matches, a player will return to form. No. Because all World Cup matches are tough. Rahul has a few matches left and he will have to score runs otherwise, the selection committee will think what to do next,” the iconic batter explained.
It isn’t the first time Rahul’s strike-rate has been a subject of criticism for the opening batter. Even in the IPL, the Karnataka lad had become a subject of debate among fans and experts for his ‘lack of intent’.
