'KL Rahul A Capable No. 6' - Former Indian All-Rounder Backs Rahul To Seal Test Spot
KL Rahul scored a century batting at 6 vs SA. [PC: X]
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar expressed his views on the future of KL Rahul in the Indian cricket team as the middle-order batter. The ex-batting coach of Indian men’s side believes Rahul will be a huge boost to the Indian Test team if he continues to bat in the middle order.
Rahul has played most of his Test cricket for India at the top of the order. With India’s first-choice wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant unavailable, Rahul has been given the role behind the stumps and to bat in the middle order in the ongoing Test series against South Africa.
The Karnataka-born cricketer had a terrific World Cup as keeper-batter for the men in blue and very much continued his superb form in whites, hitting a gritty century in the first innings of the first Test in Centurion.
Since earning his place back in the test team back in 2021, KL Rahul has been a different gravy altogether. He has made runs under difficult overseas conditions and stood whenever the team needed him.
Even in the recently concluded first Test against the Proteas, Rahul was asked to bat at six, for the first time since his debut back in 2014, and the right hander played a remarkable innings, pulling India out of trouble and scored his 7th century away from home.
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Speaking on Star Sports, Bangar, who also recently got appointed as the head of cricket development in Punjab Kings, reflected his views on the current role of KL Rahul in the team and how his batting in the middle order can help Indian cricket in the long-term.
"If he has to continue playing in that particular position, I think it's going to be a huge plus for India because he is a stroke player. He has batted at various positions and he can bat very well with the tail," Bangar said.
This is not the first time Rahul batted out of position for the sake of the team. His ability to adapt to every role makes him different from the rest and he has been doing it for some time now which reflects his terrific versatility as a player.
"We have seen this not only in Test cricket but in other formats of the game as well. So all those things put together indeed make KL Rahul a capable No. 6 who can put India in winning situations in Test matches," Bangar added.
The Indian Test side is very likely to go under transition in the near future and KL Rahul will have a huge role to play in it. With Rishabh Pant returning later this year, Rahul is very much going to play as a pure batter. But will it be at any other position or in the middle order alongside the dynamic left-hander, well only the time will tell.
The Indian Test team will be back in action in the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town. KL Rahul will potentially continue to play as keeper-batter there and then in the five more Test matches at home as the Rohit Sharma-led unit will be playing England in a five-match Test series, starting January 25th at Uppal, Hyderabad.
 "Kaushik Kashyap")
