Facing criticism for including KL Rahul in India’s squad for the Border-Gavaskar series despite his recent slump, head coach Gautam Gambhir defended the decision on Monday. Rahul, who has struggled to cement a defined role in the Test lineup, remains a strong candidate for India’s playing XI, with Gambhir emphasizing the value of his versatility and experience.
Although Rahul was initially assigned a middle-order role for India’s Test season beginning in September, he was dropped after three matches, despite scoring a fifty, to accommodate Sarfaraz Khan. Sarfaraz impressed with a knock of 150 against New Zealand but faltered in the last two matches, managing only 21 runs across four innings, including a duck. Consequently, Rahul was sent to Australia early to participate in an India A game, where he was tested as an opener with hopes of rediscovering his form and possibly filling in for Rohit Sharma in the series opener. Rohit is expected to miss the first Test due to the impending birth of his second child.
Responding to doubts over Rahul’s position, Gambhir highlighted the unique skill set Rahul brings to the team, mentioning that few players globally can bat in multiple positions across formats while also being capable of keeping wickets in ODIs. “KL Rahul can bat at the top, come in at No. 3, or even slot in at No. 6. It takes real talent to play all those roles—and he keeps wickets in ODIs as well. Not many teams have players with that level of flexibility,” Gambhir stated in Mumbai before the team’s departure to Perth.
Will Rahul Start in Perth?
Gambhir refrained from confirming Rohit’s absence for the opening Test but indicated that if he is unavailable, India would likely choose between Rahul and Abhimanyu Easwaran. Easwaran, who was initially preferred due to his strong domestic form, struggled on Australian pitches, scoring only 36 runs across two India A matches. Rahul, meanwhile, managed only 14 runs in his sole appearance.
Another option India could consider is moving Shubman Gill back to the opener role. Although Gill recently shifted to No. 3 to make space for Yashasvi Jaiswal, his experience in opening could be valuable if Rohit is unavailable.
Gambhir’s support for Rahul reflects India’s broader approach to assembling a versatile lineup, capable of adjusting to evolving challenges and conditions in Australia.
