IND vs AUS: KL Rahul to be DROPPED? – India Test vice-captain and future captain KL Rahul has been put on a notice period of some sort. His days could be numbered in the Test team with Shubman Gill hot on the heels and the Karnataka batter undergoing a poor run of form. While many have pointed out that KL Rahul is still in the team as he has vice-captain’s immunity, it may soon change. A senior BCCI official told InsideSport that there is no vice-captain immunity in the current setup. Follow India vs Australia LIVE Updates on InsideSport.
“Who said there is vice-captain’s immunity? There is no rule that vice-captain cannot be dropped. Rahul for sure is one of the candidates for future Test captaincy but when there are in-form players on the bench, nobody is expendable,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
IND vs AUS: Time RUNNING OUT for KL Rahul, BCCI official sends warning, says ‘There is no rule Vice-captain cannot be dropped’, Follow IND AUS LIVE Updates
Since his century in Centurion, KL Rahul has endured a poor run of form in Tests. While his poor form is visible in all three formats, Shubman Gill phenomenon has put his place in jeopardy. Gill has been in terrific form and considering Rahul has scored just 137 runs in 8 innings since 2022, he is now running out of time.
Rahul’s average has fallen to 17.12 excluding the 20-run innings against Australia in the first innings of Nagpur Test. In these 9 innings, Rahul has scored just one 50. That half-century was the last 30+ score for Rahul.
KL Rahul since his last century:
- 50 vs South Africa
- 8 vs South Africa
- 12 vs South Africa
- 10 vs South Africa
- 22 vs Bangladesh
- 23 vs Bangladesh
- 10 vs Bangladesh
- 2 vs Bangladesh
- 20 vs Australia
Despite betting heavily on Shubman Gill, India team management reluctantly dropped the youngster in favour of Suryakumar Yadav and KL Rahul. While both have failed, the axe is likely to fall on Rahul sooner than expected.
Rahul has already been removed from ODI and T20 vice-captaincy. Instead, Hardik Pandya has got the promotion. While the team management wants to utilise KL Rahul as a keeper-batter in Rishabh Pant’s absence in ODIs, he clearly does not have the immunity anymore.
“Yes, it’s true that KL hasn’t been in great form in all three formats, especially in Tests and T20s. He has also struggled to pace his innings in ODIs. But we should understand that we have not played many Tests in the last two years. So, it’s understandable. I am sure he will bounce back in Delhi or in the series. But if he does not, Gill is an excellent option on the bench,” the official said.
Should KL Rahul be dropped for Delhi Test?
- The Rahul Dravid-led team management has often shown resistance in changing personnel too often.
- Instead, they have backed a player despite poor run. Virat Kohli and RIshabh Pant are two such players.
- While the same isn’t the case with players like Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson or Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rahul has already enjoyed tremendous backing.
- But then Rahul was India’s No 1 opener across all formats ahead of Rohit Sharma.
- Now, things have changed with Shubman Gill in smashing form.
- Gull has proven his worth in all three formats, making it difficult for the team management to keep him out of Playing XI.
- While Rahul may get another go in Delhi, if he falters again, he will surely be dropped for Gill.
There is a growing belief that Shubman Gill should be preferred as Rohit Sharma’s opening partner in both Tests and ODIs. While Rahul has already lost his opening spot in ODIs to Gill, it’s just a matter of time before he loses that in Tests too.
Even former India captain Kapil Dev asked for Rahul to be dropped for Gill.
“Why can’t he be dropped? There should be no such rule. You need to look at team combination, who do we need. There is no necessity. In Indian cricket, I don’t think there is ever a vice-captain. Back in the day, we had a new vice-captain in every Test match. He is a very mature player; I even like him,” Kapil Dev said ahead of the 1st Test.
IND vs AUS: Time RUNNING OUT for KL Rahul, BCCI official sends warning, says ‘There is no rule Vice-captain cannot be dropped’, Follow IND AUS LIVE Updates
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