KL Rahul has kept the selectors busy: Ravi Shastri
Melbourne : India’s KL Rahul bats during the T20 World Cup cricket match between India and Zimbabwe in Melbourne, Australia on Sunday, November 06, 2022. (Photo:IANS/BCCI)Mumbai, March 18 (IANS) | Former India coach Ravi Shastri believes wicket-keeper batsman KL Rahul’s match-winning knock in the first ODI against Australia has attracted the selectors ahead of the World Test Championship final against Australia in June. After dismissing Australia for 188 in the first ODI on Friday, India looked in trouble after losing five wickets for 83 runs in 19.2 overs, but Rahul played a restrained innings of 75 not out and brought India to victory. Rahul shared an unbeaten 108-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Ravindra Jadeja (45 not out).
This is not the first time that Rahul has played a crucial innings for India in ODIs. Chasing 216 against Sri Lanka in Kolkata in January 2023, India looked in trouble at 86 for four but Rahul played a fine 64 not out under pressure conditions to give India a series win.
Shastri told Star Sports after the match, “He has impressed the selectors ahead of the World Test Championship final. Two things, one when Rohit Sharma will return for the ODI series and the other for the World Test Championship final, where India will look to strengthen their batting. Can do if Rahul takes over as wicketkeeper.”
In the Test series against Australia before the ODI series, Rahul opened in the first two Tests at Nagpur and Delhi but was dismissed cheaply, which saw him dropped from the team for the next two Tests at Indore and Ahmedabad. He had also lost his vice-captaincy.
Shastri said, “Rahul can bat in the middle order and also handle the responsibility of wicketkeeper.” KS Bharath kept in all the four Tests against Australia but had mixed results with bat and gloves.
Shastri said, “Rahul can bat at number five or six in the middle order. In England, you have to keep a lot from the back. You don’t have to do much keeping on the spinners. He has two more ODIs to play before entering the IPL.” He can cement his place in the Indian team.”
The final of the World Test Championship will be played at The Oval from June 7-11. India had lost the previous final to New Zealand in Southampton in 2021.
–IANS
