Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra highlighted the reasons for the Indian team backing KL Rahul despite his inconsistent run in Test cricket. Aakash felt that there was a deadline for everyone in the game and no player could continue for long without contributing. However, he recounted Rahul’s quick-fire fifty in the 1st Test vs Bangladesh and his brilliant century against South Africa in the Boxing Day Test in Centurion, showcasing his contributions in the crunch moments for the Indian team. The Indian team’s head coach Gautam Gambhir backed KL Rahul to return to his best amid his indifferent run of form.
“Everybody has a deadline. Honestly, you don’t put a date on it. There is no end date. You cannot indefinitely go on without scoring, without taking wickets, irrespective of what your name is. This rule applies to everyone who plays for India. It’s not restricted to just KL Rahul. Obviously, the team has seen his value. Now, if you want to turn it around and say, ‘Ok, he played in Kanpur, and he scored runs in the 2nd innings. In the 1st Test match, he could have scored more runs, but the team decided to declare. Then we go back to the last series that he didn’t play. Previously, before that series, he played against South Africa and scored a century,” Aakash Chopra told India Today during an interaction held by Jio Cinema.
He looked out of sorts in the opening Test against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru where he got scores of 0 and 12. In both innings, it was fast bowler William O’Rourke who accounted for his wicket. Thereafter, Rahul was greeted with criticism for not being able to perform to expectations.
Aakash Chopra pointed out the value which Rahul brings, especially with his brilliant record of scoring hundreds outside India. He felt that the Indian team management would give him more chances before taking any call to replace him in India’s Test playing XI.
“So he has more than one reason to think that he is adding value, and also the fact that out of the 8 centuries he scored in Tests, 7 are outside India, including centuries in SENA countries, so from all those standpoints, the boy has a lot to offer, and therefore we must stick with him for a little longer. I am not the one who should be putting a date or time to it, it is for the Indian team to figure out. If they feel they have been given a fair number of chances and if there is a need to move towards someone else. They will take that call. At this time, it looks like they are backing KL Rahul,” he added.
