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Former India cricketer Sanjay Mankrekar reckoned that KL Rahul should sit out if young batter Shubman Gill is fit to play the second Test match against New Zealand which is scheduled to start from October 24 at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. Gill missed the first Test match due to neck stiffness.
Former India captain Virat Kohli batted at number three but he was unable to deliver runs in the first innings. India got bundled out on just 46 runs where KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin got out on a duck which led India to a humiliating eight-wicket defeat against the Kiwis. This was India's first loss to the BlackCaps on home soil since 1988. KL Rahul, who batted in the middle order, notched poor scores of 0 and 12 to continue his inconsistent run in Tests.
Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Manjrekar said that the team should have KL sit out if Gill turns out to be fit for Pune Test. He also said that in case Gill is not fit, Virat should be called at number four since it would be unfair to keep playing him at a position where he has not scored many runs. He also called for KL to be shifted to number three if Gill does not play, in order to "free him up a bit".
"Yes. I think that could be the call the team management will take if Gill is not fit. It is a little unfair for somebody like Virat to keep batting at number three. Maybe because KL is looking so lost (in the middle-order), maybe push him to number three and just free up a little bit and let Virat play at number four," said Manjrekar.
Kohli has played on number three in five Test matches where he scored 167 runs in eight innings at an average of 23.85 with just one fifty and best score of 70, which came during the second innings of the Bengaluru Test. His statistics at number four are far better and he has made 7,355 runs in 91 Tests and 148 innings at an average of 52.53, with 25 centuries and 21 fifties.
KL Rahul has struggled with consistency in Tests since 2022, averaging just 25.70 across 12 matches and 21 innings, totaling 514 runs. His record includes one century and three fifties, with a highest score of 101. His performance as a number three has been particularly challenging, as he has managed only 88 runs in four Tests and five innings, including one fifty.
Most of KL's success in Test cricket has come as an opener, where he has accumulated 2,551 runs in 49 matches and 75 innings, with an average of 34.94. His achievements include seven centuries and 12 fifties, with his best score being 199.
India squad for second and third Test against NZ: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Washington Sundar.
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