'Social media doesn't decide playing XI': Gautam Gambhir hits out at KL Rahul's critics and reminds them of his knock on Kanpur pitch

Gambhir on kl rahul Criticism: KL Rahul scored 68 runs from just 43 deliveries against Bangladesh in Kanpur before registering scores of 0 and 12 in the first Test against New Zealand.

Sports Tak

• Wed • 23 Oct 2024

Gautam Gambhir at a press conference; KL Rahul during a training session

KL Rahul, Gautam Gambhir

Highlights:

Gautam Gambhir backed KL Rahul amidst widespread criticism.

KL Rahul got out for a duck and then scored 12 runs in the Bengaluru Test.

Gambhir on kl rahul Criticism: India men’s cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir slammed KL Rahul’s critics after he had forgettable outings at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru in first Test. Gambhir said that the trolls on social media won’t decide the playing XI for the second Test against New Zealand at Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune.

“Social media doesn't decide playing XI. It is not important what social media or experts think, it is important what team management thinks. Ultimately, everyone is judged, international cricket is about being judged. Everyone's performance will be judged eventually,” Gambhir said in the press conference on the eve of the second Test.

Gambhir reminded everyone of Rahul’s selfless and blazing knock of 68 runs from 43 balls at Green Park, Kanpur against Bangladesh to help India force a result.

“He had a decent knock in a tough Kanpur pitch. He would be knowing that he wants to score big runs, he has that capability of scoring these big runs that is why he is being backed by the team management.,” he added.

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Long rope for Rahul

Gambhir has worked with Rahul at the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) when he was the team’s mentor. Earlier, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate also backed Rahul and said that he has been given a long rope by Gambhir.

"It's not like we're worried about his form. If you go on just the past three months since Gauti has been in here, he's keen to give him (Rahul) as much rope as we can. We have a lot of faith in him," he said.

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However, Doeschate admitted that there is a competition for a spot in the middle-order with Sarfaraz Khan scoring 150 runs under pressure in the second innings of the first Test to help the hosts recover from 46 all out.

"But at the same time, it's a very competitive environment, with Sarfaraz getting 150 plus runs (222 not out) in the Irani Trophy final. The decision will be what's best for the team, but we'll certainly back all the guys in," the former Netherlands player added.

Rahul has not scored a Test century on Indian soil since 2016. Also, his last fifty-plus score in second innings of a Test came in 2018 in England.