Former fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad slammed the Indian team management for their ‘rigidity’ and giving KL Rahul ‘endless chances’ despite poor performances at the highest level for a long time.
Rahul is currently a part of the Indian squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and In two innings, has scored 37 runs at an average of 18.50 with a top score of 20.
“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 at least last 20 years of Indian cricket has played these many tests with such a low average. His inclusion is deliberately denying talented guys, in form guys an opportunity to be in the 11,”Prasad wrote.
“Shikhar had a test avg of 40+, Mayank has of 41+ with 2 double hundreds, Shubman Gill in sublime form, Sarfaraz never ending wait… Many domestic performances constantly ignored.”
“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 innings,” he stated.
“As per me, he is currently not amongst the current 10 best openers in India but is being given endless chances. Guys like Kuldeep Yadav put in man of the match performances and next game are dropped with theories like Horses for courses. In any course, KL is not a horse. Sad,” Prasad added.
