Gautam Gambhir lauds KL Rahul's versatility, questions Rishabh Pant's future
Gautam Gambhir praised KL Rahul for the kind of versatility that he showed in the ODI series against Australia and stated that his ability to shift gears with ease is an invaluable asset to the Indian team. The former Indian opener wrote in his column for TOI:
"He (Rahul) has a good attitude, top-class fitness level, an array of strokes and leadership qualities. On a corporate scale, Rahul is an invaluable middle-management asset who can be groomed for bigger roles."
After Rishabh Pant had a concussion in the first ODI, Rahul took up the responsibility of wicket-keeping and put on a decent show behind the stumps. In the second ODI, he was slotted in at number five as Virat Kohli decided to bat at his original number three position. Yet, he managed to carry forward the momentum given by the skipper and smashed a quickfire 80 which helped India put 340 on the board. Rahul's innings proved to be the difference in the end as India beat Australia by 36 runs to stay alive in the series.
In the third ODI, India persisted with Rahul in the middle-order even though Rishabh Pant was fit and available for selection. But an injury to Shikhar Dhawan meant that he had to open the innings. Though on the outset it felt like Rahul was versatile enough to do whatever the team asked of him, Gambhir questioned whether he was put under pressure and asked to bat at different positions.
"I want the decision-makers to consider a few aspects. Have they discussed this with Rahul? Is he wholeheartedly performing the role? It's usually impossible for a young cricketer to say "no" to anything thrown at him without risking getting dropped," Gambhir reckoned.
He also did not understand the kind of message that must have been sent out to Pant because he was out of the starting eleven due to a concussion and not due to poor form. With skipper Virat Kohli confirming that the team would like to persist with Rahul, Gambhir felt that it was unfair for Pant.
"Second, what happens to Rishabh Pant? I think his confidence is already eroding under the constant scrutiny of his technique. I'm not sure how he will perceive this move. A fair and open-hearted chat with Rishabh will ensure the team performs well both on and off the field. Organizations can ill afford to have a talented but disgruntled youngster in the room," Gambhir concluded.