Former India captain and the ex-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Sourav Ganguly says that there will be criticism for any player who is not performing for a long run as has been the case of Indian vice-captain KL Rahul, who was removed from his position from the Test side but retained in the squad for the final two Test matches against Australia in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
KL Rahul has been on the radar of fans and critics alike since he has not performed up to the expectations and the promise that he had shown in the initial years in international cricket, particularly failing miserably in big matches that India failed to win in the last one or two years.
Recently, KL Rahul was immensely criticised by former India fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad who also ended up picking a social media fight with cricketer turned commentator Aakash Chopra on the topic.
The former India captain Sourav Ganguly told PTI,
“When you don’t score runs in India, obviously you will get flak. KL Rahul hasn’t been the only one. There have been players in the past also. There’s so much focus and attention with a lot of pressure on players. The team management thinks he is an important player for the team. At the end of the day, what the coach and captain thinks is important.”
Sourav Ganguly said,
”He has performed [over the years] but obviously you expect a lot more from a top-order batter playing for India because the standards set by others are so high. When you fail for a while, obviously there will be criticism. I am sure Rahul has ability and I am sure that when he gets more opportunities, he will have to find ways to score.”
“It also makes it hard if you are playing on these sort of pitches as the balls are turning and bouncing. There’s uneven bounce and when you are not in form, it makes it even more harder.”
Sourav Ganguly, who was the BCCI boss until recently, added that young right-handed opener Shubman Gill will have to wait for his chances. There are calls for KL Rahul to be dropped from the playing XI and Shubman Gill, who has scored his maiden Test century and also became the youngest batsman ever to score an ODI double century, should be picked.
Sourav Ganguly said,
”I am sure when his time comes, he will also get a lot of opportunities. I think the selectors, the captain and the coach think of him and rate him very highly. That’s why he is playing ODIs and T20Is, and he has performed as well.
“But at the present moment, perhaps message from team management is that he has to wait. These are very tough wickets. I saw in the first two Tests and it’s not easy, boss. Playing Ashwin, Jadeja, Lyon and the new guy, Todd Murphy, it is never easy with odd ball turning square. There is unevenness, there is everything happening for spinners,”
he added.
The third Test between India and Australia will start on March 1, Wednesday, at the Holkar Stadium in Indore and it remains to be seen if the Indian team management will continue to stick with KL Rahul, or pick the in-form Shubman Gill to strengthen their batting line-up.