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Atherton Calls KL Rahul 'Biggest Culprit' After Big-Shot Dismissal in Hyderabad 

image-lrvojobcRahul made a brilliant 86 but was out to a poor shot [X.com]

Michael Atherton called out Indian batters' "generous" attitude in being dismissed of miscued big shots attempted on Day 2 of the Hyderabad Test against inexperienced England spinners and felt Virat Kohli's No.4 replacement KL Rahul was the "biggest culprit". 

Promoted to the esteemed spot held by Kohli for the last decade amidst the great batter's temporary absence, Rahul played a sensible and freeflowing knock of 86 but then threw a near-certain century away with his caught dismissal off a long-hop from leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed.

For Atherton, it wasn't merely about Rahul missing out on another hundred next to his name but the situation of the game, which required him to continue batting and posting a substantial enough score towards India's fortunes as Kohli would've done. 

Atherton Gives Rahul Flak For Costly Big Shot

"They (England) were fortunate that India’s top order were in a generous mood but the situation at the close was very bad even so, and could have been even worse,” Atherton wrote in his column for The Times. 

"It is hard to imagine that Virat Kohli would have been as obliging as his team-mates were here, and the biggest culprit was his replacement at No 4, the stylish and gifted KL Rahul, who had a hundred for the taking before hammering a long-hop from Tom Hartley into the deep," he added. 

Rahul would be the first one to agree with Atherton as he missed out on what should've been his second hundred in three Tests since making a terrific comeback for India during the tour of South Africa. 

Given the topsy-turvy ride the batter has had at the Test level, it was important for him to prolong his brilliant stay at the crease and get a major milestone after producing one in grand fashion in Centurion.