"When a big player returns, you will have to lose your place" - Kris Srikkanth backs KL Rahul to replace Sarfaraz Khan for 1st Bangladesh Test 2024
Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth has backed veteran batter KL Rahul to retain his place at No.5 ahead of Sarfaraz Khan in the first Test against Bangladesh, starting in Chennai on September 19. After playing the first Test against England earlier this year, Rahul missed the rest of the five-match series due to injury.
It gave Sarfaraz an opportunity to make his debut for India in the final three England Tests and the youngster took it with both hands. The 26-year-old scored 200 runs at an average of 50 with three half-centuries, as India bounced back from losing the opener to win the series 4-1.
While Sarfaraz and Rahul are both part of the squad for the first Bangladesh Test, Srikkanth on his YouTube channel backed the latter to slot back in at No.5.
"Honestly, I feel bad for Sarfaraz Khan. But, this happens, at times, in Test cricket. You would have been playing well but when a big player returns, you will have to lose your place. Take for instance, Rishabh Pant is returning because of which Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan are losing their places. KL Rahul is coming in," he said.
Srikkanth also feels keeping in mind the upcoming Australia tour would help KL Rahul to get the nod ahead of Sarfaraz.
"At the back of the mind, they are also keeping the Australia series. New Zealand are also coming. KL Rahul has performed well overseas, in Australia he has done well," added Srikkanth.
KL Rahul scored a brilliant 86 in the first innings of the series opener against England - the last time he played a red-ball game for India.
India's top four is set with Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli and their No.6 is likely to be Rishabh Pant as the wicket-keeper. This leaves only the No.5 slot open for one of Rahul or Sarfaraz.
KL Rahul outperformed Sarfaraz Khan in the 2024 Duleep Trophy opener
KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan battled each other in the 2024 Duleep Trophy opener when India A took on India B in Bengaluru. Playing for India A, Rahul produced scores of 37 and 57 in a low-scoring encounter with 300 being crossed only once in the four innings.
Meanwhile, Sarfaraz scored only 9 in the first innings but responded with a crucial 36-ball 46 in the second innings to help India A set a formidable target of 275 for India A.
Despite Rahul's valiant half-century in the fourth innings, India A suffered a 76-run defeat.
While he has been released from the India A squad for Round 2 of the Duleep Trophy, Sarfaraz has been retained in the India B roster despite being part of the Indian squad for the first Bangladesh Test.