India's think tank under fire for failing to utilise KL Rahul after England ODI defeat

India's ODI series defeat against England has once again sparked debate over KL Rahul's role in the team, with former India pacer Dodda Ganesh questioning the think tank's handling of the experienced batter.

Shubman Gill's side went down in the three-match ODI series after falling short in the decider at Lord's, and while several aspects of India's performance came under scrutiny, Rahul's batting position became one of the biggest talking points.

The right-handed batter featured in only two matches in the series after missing the second ODI in Cardiff due to illness. Whenever he did play, Rahul was slotted at No.6 despite enjoying significant success one position higher in the batting order.

Also Read: 'Reminded everyone why he...': Ex-Pakistan star hails Rohit Sharma after Lord's century silences retirement talk

Dodda Ganesh questions KL Rahul's batting role

Taking to social media after India's defeat, Dodda Ganesh criticised the team management for pushing Rahul down the order instead of allowing him to bat in his preferred position.

The former Karnataka and India pacer pointed out that Rahul has built an outstanding record batting at No.5 and felt shifting him to No.6 has only reduced his impact on the game.

"KL Rahul, after owning no 5 with unreal numbers, being pushed to no 6 looks something like this. Absolute waste of a genuine batter."

Ganesh's remarks echoed the frustration of several fans, who have repeatedly questioned Rahul's constantly changing role in India's ODI setup.

Rahul struggles in England series

Rahul endured a disappointing outing with the bat during the series, registering scores of 1 and 12 in the two matches he played.

In the series-deciding third ODI at Lord's, the experienced batter came in with India chasing a daunting target of 388. Although he struck a couple of boundaries during his brief stay, Rahul failed to convert his start and was eventually bowled by Jofra Archer for 12.

The dismissal left the batter visibly disappointed as India eventually fell 27 runs short, allowing England to clinch the ODI series.

Rahul had returned to the playing XI in the final ODI after replacing Washington Sundar, who missed the match due to injury. However, despite his return, he was not entrusted with wicketkeeping duties, with Ishan Kishan taking the gloves instead.

Following another low score, Rahul became the target of criticism on social media. Ganesh, however, defended the batter, suggesting that constant changes in his role have made it difficult for him to produce consistent performances.

Also Read: Ruturaj Gaikwad named West Zone captain for Duleep Trophy 2026

With India now looking ahead to future ODI assignments, Rahul's batting position is once again expected to remain a key talking point, especially after another series where his utilisation drew criticism from former cricketers and fans alike.