"There's some fascination that the team management, selectors have for him"- Sanjay Manjrekar slams India's persistence with KL Rahul in Tests
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar slammed the team management for their obsession to persist with out-of-form batter KL Rahul in Tests ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Despite playing 53 Tests in his extended career, Rahul averages only 33.87.
His recent Test form has also been far from impressive with an average of only 33.42 in 2024, following averages of 17.12 and 28.60 in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Yet, the 32-year-old remains part of the Indian squad for the upcoming Australia Tests.
With skipper Rohit Sharma likely to miss the first Test, Rahul opened for India A in their recent outing against Australia A as one of the possible replacement options.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Manjrekar was baffled about India sticking to Rahul despite his subpar returns.
"So that is the time when you go back and do the right thing. And play players who deserve to get a chance. KL Rahul. You know, I don't know, there's some fascination that the team management, selectors have for him that they just want him part of the playing 11, whether it's at the top or down the order," he said.
"Maybe Abhimanyu Easwaran hasn't convinced them as much. But it's not for us to play God and decide that maybe Abhimanyu Easwaran won't get run in the Test match. We've had many examples in the past where players have surprised you by the performances. Sometimes you yourself are surprised by your own sort of performance as to the height that you reach. So keep it simple and make the right choice," Manjrekar added.
Rahul, however, failed in both innings of the Australia A game, scoring 4 and 10, respectively.
"Clearly, India is in panic mode" - Sanjay Manjrekar
Sanjay Manjrekar felt Team India went into panic mode with the move to open with KL Rahul in the India A-Australia A contest ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Rahul was reportedly slated to bat at No.6 in Australia before the sudden move to open for India A a fortnight ahead of the Test series Down Under as Rohit's possible replacement in the first Test. Team India are coming off a shocking 0-3 home Test series whitewash to New Zealand.
"Clearly, India is in panic mode. They are a bit shaken by what happened against New Zealand at home. And that's when plans start to go awry. And that is where I believe that one has to actually look at it in a different way, where you think there's nothing to lose here," said Manjrekar.
"I would actually say KL Rahul should consider himself very lucky to be getting opportunities. Such comebacks and opportunities, very few players over the years in the history of Indian cricket have been given this kind of a deal. He's got 100 in Australia. So that is why he keeps coming back into plans. Now the average has dropped to 33 after 50 Test matches. I guess somewhere they hope that KL Rahul might find that form that he's capable of," he added.
The first of five Tests between India and Australia starts in Perth on November 22.