"If someone else has stepped up in his absence and done well, it doesn’t mean Rahul’s place was in danger" - Parthiv Patel hails Indian batter
Former Indian wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel hailed KL Rahul for his sparkling 68-run knock off 43 deliveries on Day 4 of the ongoing India-Bangladesh second Test in Kanpur on Monday, September 30. With India vying for quick runs to make for lost time due to rain over the first three days, Rahul smashed seven boundaries and two maximums in a thrilling batting display.
The 32-year-old has been questioned about his place in the Test side after Sarfaraz Khan impressed in his absence during the second half of the England series earlier this year.
However, Parthiv felt Rahul's place was never in danger and lauded him for his breathtaking knock.
"I don’t think we need to question KL Rahul’s ability at all. If someone else has stepped up in his absence and done well, it doesn’t mean Rahul’s place was in danger. I was never in doubt about his position in the team. I think when you said KL Rahul was under pressure, I sometimes wonder why, because he had a very good series in South Africa, and before he got injured, he batted well against England," Parthiv said in a conversation with Jio Cinema.
"But today, he showed once again what kind of player he is. These are not the easiest shots to play, especially when there is no pace or bounce on the pitch. We saw a lot of inconsistent bounce as well, but KL Rahul, when he plays with a free mindset, we know the kind of shots he is capable of playing. We saw a lot of strike rotation too, and he has shown that ability today," he added.
Rahul's overall Test average of 34.52 has led to several fans and experts discussing his place in the side.
Yet, the ace batter had showcased solid form before his injury after the first England Test with an 86 in that outing and a brilliant century in the previous series in South Africa.
"One or two bad games and people start questioning his place, which I think is not fair" - Tamim Iqbal on KL Rahul
Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal also threw his weight around KL Rahul, calling the criticisms unfair.
Rahul's onslaught helped India maintain a run-rate of over eight and finish at 285/9 declared in the 35th over of their first innings, capturing a 52-run first-innings lead.
"In every team, you will find one or two players who are always under pressure. If you look at their stats, you’ll see that they’ve performed well, but after just one or two low scores, we tend to put them under scrutiny. I think KL Rahul is that person in the Indian team. One or two bad games and people start questioning his place, which I think is not fair," Tamim said in the same interaction.
At stumps on Day 4, Bangladesh were 26/2 in 11 overs, trailing India by 26 runs to make them bat again.