The only topic of concern pertaining to the Indian team, despite their unassailable 2-0 lead against Australia, has been KL Rahul’s prolonged lean patch and whether the opener will be replaced for the third Test in Indore. Amid the talk, former India skipper Sourav Ganguly has given his blunt verdict in the India batter, who was also stripped of his vice-captaincy post for the last two Tests against Australia owing to his form.
Rahul has barely crossed 17 in his last 10 innings with his career average falling to 35 in 47 matches. In this series, he has scored just 38 runs so far. In reaction to the rising criticism over Rahul’s form, the selectors decided to remove him from the role of the vice-captain in the Indian Test set-up.
“When you don’t score runs in India, obviously you will get flak. KL Rahul hasn’t been the only one. There have been players in the past also,” Ganguly told PTI on the sidelines of Delhi Capitals’ IPL pre-season camp.
“There’s so much focus and attention with lot of pressure on players. The team management thinks he is an important player for the team. At the end of the day, what coach and captain thinks is important,” the veteran of 113 Tests and 311 ODIs said. “He has performed but obviously you expect a lot more from a top order batter playing for India because the standards set by others are so high. When you fail for a while, obviously there will be criticism. I am sure Rahul has ability and I am sure as and when he gets more opportunities, he will have to find ways to score.”
