11 years in Test cricket, 58 matches, four changes in batting position: KL Rahul has endured all. Now that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli both retired from Test cricket, he can finally claim a spot and cement that. In the last year alone, Rahul has played as an opener, at No 3, at No 4 and No 6. But with India vs England Test opening a new chapter, he can finally claim a spot, as Chris Gayle suggested.
The constant change in position also brought in inconsistent performances from Rahul. In five Tests in Australia, he averaged 30.66, including two half-centuries. Rahul mostly opened for India with Yashasvi Jaiswal, while batting at No 3 in the Melbourne Test.
Should KL Rahul open in England?
As an opener, KL Rahul has played in 83 innings, scoring 2803 runs at an average of 35.04. But when last time India last toured England, Rahul excelled as an opener, scoring a century at Lord’s and an 84-run knock in Nottingham. He ended the tour with 315 runs at an average of 39.37. Overall, in England, KL Rahul has played 18 innings, scoring 614 runs at an average of 34.11, including two centuries and a half-century. Then the question is: should India change his batting position again?
Maybe not. With Rohit Sharma retiring, India would need a solid opener with experience in England. KL Rahul has done that already. He should be the one opening the batting with Yashasvi Jaiswal. Shubman Gill, who is yet to find his footing in Test cricket but will lead India in England, should bat at No 4, in Virat Kohli’s spot. And now is the time for KL Rahul to raise his hand up and say, ‘Enough, give me the opening spot’, as Chris Gayle urged.
“He’s playing a team sport. And I know he’s doing it for the team, as he’s said in interviews. He bats where the captain wants him to. But I think he should stand firm and say, ‘Listen, Skipper, Coach, this is my position’,” Chris Gayle told InsideSport in an exclusive interview.
KL Rahul in England
| Batting position | Inns | Runs | HS | Ave | 100 | 50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 18 | 614 | 149 | 34.11 | 2 | 1 |
| As an Opener | 16 | 597 | 149 | 37.31 | 2 | 1 |
| At No 3 | 2 | 17 | 13 | 8.50 | 0 | 0 |
What about the middle order?
KL Rahul has done well in ODIs, batting at No 4 and No 5. He has scored an average of 56.48 and 55.80 at No 4. Former chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth wants KL Rahul to bat at No 4.
“Coming to the question about India’s next No. 4 in Test cricket, for me, KL Rahul should be given that position. He can be India’s lynchpin going forward in Test cricket. He has got the right technique, and the management should give him that fixed role,” said Srikkanth on his YouTube channel.
However, in Tests, he hasn’t batted in that many innings in the middle-order. He is an experienced opener. And now is the chance for him to continue opening the innings for India.
KL Rahul in Tests as per batting position
| Batting Position | Inns | Runs | Avg | 100s | 50s | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening | 83 | 2803 | 35.04 | 7 | 14 | 199 |
| No 3 | 7 | 112 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 54 |
| No 4 | 2 | 108 | 54 | 0 | 1 | 86 |
| No 6 | 9 | 234 | 29.25 | 1 | 1 | 101 |
| Overall | 101 | 3257 | 33.58 | 8 | 17 | 199 |
The post India vs England Test: KL Rahul set for change in batting position after Virat Kohli’s Test retirement? appeared first on Inside Sport India.