Former India cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar dismisses the idea of KL Rahul opening the innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in Perth Test in the absence of Rohit Sharma. Indian skipper stayed back with his family and will miss the first Test whereas Shubman Gill suffered a fracture in his left thumb during match simulations.
Rahul has been backed by many to open including head coach Gautam Gambhir. While Gambhir hasn't revealed the playing eleven yet, Abhimanyu Easwaran is unlikely to open given his performance in matches against Australia A and in match simulations. Manjrekar feels Rahul is not fit to open given his current form.
"It’s not like KL Rahul as an opening option is setting the stage on fire. Going by the reality, KL Rahul currently you can see, you’ve got to feel for him, I love him as a player the kind of talent he has. He looks a bit down on confidence and you don’t want someone like him batting at the top of the order because much of the tempo of the innings is set at the start number 1,2 and 3," Manjrekar told ESPNCricinfo.
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Rahul has an average over 34 as an opener in Tests. He opened for India A in the second match against Australia A but failed to post a big score. He looked impressive in the match simulations before copping a blow from a rising delivery bowled by Prasidh Krishna.
Manjrekar wants Rahul to bat in the middle order. He feels that he will bat better against the softer ball and string crucial partnerships with the lower-order batters.
"I’m going by KL Rahul for the work he’s done down the order and very recently in South Africa. He was batting at number six with a softer Kookaburra ball and if he has to bat with the tailenders, I feel he will be terrific where he’s got the big game as well. So I see KL better used and more chances of KL Rahul adding value to the team at that position," said the 59-year-old.
Manjrekar's India Playing 11 for Perth Test -
Abhimanyu Easwaran, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah (c), Mohammed Siraj.
