"Not like KL Rahul as an opening option is setting the stage on fire"- Sanjay Manjrekar opposes idea of veteran batter opening in 1st BGT 2024-25 Test
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has opposed KL Rahul replacing skipper Rohit Sharma at the top in the opening Test of the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy in Perth, starting November 22. Rohit has been ruled out of the series opener after his wife gave birth to their second child a few days ago.
This led India to look for an opening option to partner with Yashasvi Jaiswal. The management is pondering over Bengal batter Abhimanyu Easwaran's debut or the experienced KL Rahul for the Perth outing.
During a conversation with ESPNcricinfo, Manjrekar said Rahul's low confidence level should eliminate him from batting in the top order.
"It’s not like KL Rahul as an opening option is setting the stage on fire. Going by the reality, KL Rahul currently you can see, you’ve got to feel for him, I love him as a player the kind of talent he has. He looks a bit down on confidence and you don’t want someone like him batting at the top of the order because much of the tempo of the innings is set at the start number 1,2 and 3," he said.
Rahul hasn't opened the batting for India in Tests since the home series against Australia early last year.
The 32-year-old doesn't boast a great record as a Test opener with an average of under 35 in 75 innings. Rahul's recent Test form has been sub-par at best with an average of only 33.42 in five Tests this year.
"If he has to bat with the tailenders, I feel he will be terrific" - Sanjay Manjrekar on KL Rahul
Sanjay Manjrekar believes Rahul should stick to No. 6 for his ability to bat with the tail-enders against the softer ball.
The stylish right-hander has batted at No. 6 for India in five of his last six Tests, yet his overall average at the position is under 30.
"I’m going by KL Rahul for the work he’s done down the order and very recently in South Africa. He was batting at number six with a softer Kookaburra ball and if he has to bat with the tailenders, I feel he will be terrific where he’s got the big game as well. So I see KL better used and more chances of KL Rahul adding value to the team at that position," Manjrekar said in the same interview.
Despite the poor overall numbers at No. 6, Rahul scored a breathtaking century in the opening Test against South Africa at Centurion in December last year.