VVS Laxman has said opener KL Rahul will be disappointed with the manner in which he has been dismissed in all three T20Is of the ongoing series against England. The Indian opener, who has scored just one solitary run in three matches combined in the ongoing T20I series, has looked out of sorts in the middle.
During a discussion on Star Sports, VVS Laxman was asked how he sees KL Rahul’s position in the Indian team in the upcoming matches.
VVS Laxman Wants India To Persist With KL Rahul
While acknowledging that KL Rahul will be unhappy with the manner of his dismissals, VVS Laxman wants Team India to persist with the 28-year-old at the top of the order.
“He will have to play because he has not played much international cricket. He is not a regular member in Test matches now. But KL Rahul will be disappointed the way he got out in all three innings,” said Laxman.
The cricketer-turned-commentator pointed out KL Rahul has struggled with his footwork in recent games.
“If we talk or think about KL Rahul’s batting, he is a technically correct batsman. He has scored centuries in Test cricket as well but the way both his feet are on the crease and the bat away from the body because of which a gap is seen between bat and pad,” added Laxman.
KL Rahul, who was castled off the inside edge in the first encounter, nicked a wide delivery to be caught behind in the second. He was then bowled through the gate by Mark Wood in the third T20I.
He may have registered consecutive ducks in the last two matches, but KL Rahul has received the backing of India captain Virat Kohli, who feels the batsman is a ‘champion player’ in T20 cricket. KL Rahul averages 40.61 in T20Is despite having scores of 0,1,0 and 0 in the last 4 T20Is.
VVS Laxman: Dropping KL Rahul Will Be A Big Setback For Him Since His Self Confidence Is Low
“So somewhere or the other I feel the self-confidence and rhythm that is generally seen in KL Rahul’s batting is not seen at all. His confidence level is low, so if you leave him out at this point, it will be a big setback for him,” concluded Laxman.
KL Rahul has been India’s most consistent T20I batsman over the last couple of years. He amassed 760 runs at an excellent average of 44.70 in the 20 matches he played in 2019 and 2020. But his injury-enforced absence over the last couple of months, combined with the emergence of Ishan Kishan as a dashing opening option has probably put undue pressure on him for a spot in the Indian team.