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Gambhir Lists Daunting Challenge Awaiting Keeper KL Rahul & It's Not SA vs IND Tests

image-lqhutx6mKL Rahul (X.com)

After a prolonged injury layoff, Indian batter KL Rahul returned to the national team's scheme of things earlier this year. In the absence of Rishabh Pant, who is still recovering from a near-fatal car crash, Rahul saw an increase in his overall opportunities. 

KL Rahul did not only handle middle-order duties but also donned keeping gloves to provide India an edge over its opposition. Rahul kept wickets in the ODI World Cup and also during the white ball leg of the ongoing South African tour.

However, for probably the first time in his Test career, KL Rahul looks set to keep the wickets during the upcoming two-game test series. In the absence of Pant, Ishan Kishan and Rahul were viewed as top choices. However, Kishan pulled out of the series at the last moment, thus leading to the promotion of KS Bharat.


Gambhir Warns KL Rahul Ahead Of England Tests

While the choice of ideal wicket-keeper is uncertain, Rahul's former LSG mentor, Gautam Gambhir, suggested that KL's keeping skills shouldn't be judged on his performance in South Africa.

It's because the real challenge for KL Rahul as a wicket-keeper would be to keep on turning track wicket. Gambhir cited the example of how the impending five-game Test series between India and England will test Rahul in a real sense.

Gambhir reckons that it's easy to stand behind the wickets when the likes of Jadeja, Ashwin, and Axar are bowling from both ends on spin-friendly wickets. That is the biggest challenge KL will ever face as a keeper, believes the former Indian cricketer. 

“I hope this is not a one-off situation because that would be unfair. His real challenge will not be wicketkeeping in South Africa, but on rank turners, in that five Test match series against England when Ashwin, Jadeja and Axar will be bowling. No challenge is bigger than that," Gambhir told Star Sports.

Also, Gautam Gambhir insists that KL Rahul should be given more opportunities to test his skills as a full-time keeper. He firmly believes that India does not have a long-term plan when it comes to wicket-keeping. 

"If you are looking at these two Test matches, then I would rather not play him because I would look at long-term plans, and India don't have a long-term plan right now because you only have KS Bharat and Rahul now. But probably it is the right way of going about things in allowing KL Rahul do the job until Rishabh Pant returns,” Gambhir said.

Moreover, with Rishabh Pant's return in the near future uncertain, KL Rahul should remain India's first-choice wicket-keeper across all formats until the Delhi Capitals' captain eventually returns.