India secured a 2-0 lead over England in the three-match PDO series, sparking celebrations among fans. However, not everyone is pleased with the team’s management decisions during the series, particularly concerning KL Rahul’s batting order. Former Indian batter and selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth has voiced his concerns, criticising head coach Gautam Gambhir. The head coach has been playing all-rounder Axar Patel over experienced batter KL Rahul just because he is a left-hander.
Srikkanth concerned about KL Rahul
After India’s victory in Cuttack, Srikkanth expressed his dissatisfaction with the team’s playing combination and batting order, especially KL Rahul being demoted to No. 6. On his YouTube channel, Srikkanth said, “I feel so bad for KL Rahul, Axar Patel is hitting well. What they are doing with Rahul isn’t fair; look at his record. He has a brilliant record at No.5, and not a lot of people can match that.”
K Srikkanth slams Gautam Gambhir
Srikkanth didn’t hold back in criticising Gambhir, suggesting his decisions have sidelined talents like KL Rahul. “Gambhir, what you are doing isn’t fair. It is not at all right. It is very unfair. In a crucial contest in the Champions Trophy, there is a good chance that Rahul might not be in form.” He suggested playing Rishabh Pant instead of pushing Rahul to No. 6, labelling it as “absolutely unfair to Rahul.”
More on Cricket
- Gautam Gambhir to miss IPL 2025 action as he jets off to France for vacation
- Hasan Nawaz breaks Babar Azam’s record, here are 5 fastest T20I centuries for Pakistan
- Multan Sultans’ PSL promo sparks fury as they use Rohit Sharma’s voice
Advocating for Rahul at no. 5
Defending Rahul’s position at No. 5, Srikkanth highlighted the risks of altering Rahul’s batting spot, which could affect his form and India’s future prospects. “See, you have to play your best player at No.5, that’s all. It doesn’t matter if he’s a right-hander, left-hander, or middle-hander. I don’t care! The whole thought process is flawed,” Srikkanth concluded, urging India to maintain a stable and effective batting order.
KL Rahul at number 5
KL Rahul has proven himself at No. 5 with impressive statistics, scoring 1,259 runs in 30 innings, averaging 57.22 with a strike rate of 95.45. Despite his success, the team has recently moved him to No. 6, allowing Axar Patel to bat at No. 5, which has raised questions and concerns among cricket experts like Srikkanth.
