Former selector questions KL Rahul's batting position during New Zealand ODIs
Krishnamachari Srikkanth criticised the decision to send Axar Patel ahead of KL Rahul during the second ODI in Wellington.
Former India selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth has questioned the team management's decision to send KL Rahul to bat at number six during the second ODI against New Zealand in Wellington, according to the Times of India.
India were at 39/3 when Axar Patel came to bat. Patel scored seven runs off 17 balls before losing his wicket to the New Zealand bowling attack on a pitch with uneven bounce and short-pitched deliveries.
Srikkanth, speaking on his YouTube channel, called the decision a gross injustice. He noted that Rahul is an experienced player who has scored international centuries at number three and number four.
Srikkanth stated that Rahul was the only player who looked comfortable in the second ODI and suggested that head coach Gautam Gambhir needs to understand Rahul is a marquee player.
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar supported the decision to send a left-handed batter ahead of right-handers to disturb the rhythm of the opposition bowlers. Gavaskar said that while the move did not work this time, there was nothing wrong with the thought process.
Gavaskar added that such experiments are made because a solid player like Rahul was batting later in the order.