India is now blessed with a problem that all teams want. They are several openers that knock on the door from a place on the side. The likes of Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill are looking for a place in the starting eleven with KL Rahul also an option. Rahul has been played in the middle order due to the form of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan at the top. But without a pillar of middle order on the side, Rahul has taken on the responsibility of providing balance to the side.
Rahul was in sinister form during the 2020 Indian Premier League, as he was the tournament’s top scorer with 670 runs. But with India they are likely to play in the middle order. Former India hitter Sanjay Manjrekar has also advocated for Rahul to be played at No. 5 while giving Mayank Agarwal his approval as a starter.
READ | India vs Australia: Three days ago something just clicked, says Steve Smith after scoring 105 of 66 balls
“Look, the thing is, India has a lot of depth when it comes to cue ball cricket. Rohit is almost irreplaceable, but India has options. Let’s not forget, in his last four innings, Rahul scored more than 80 runs in three innings while batting in the middle order (number five) in India’s last ODI series in New Zealand. The credit must go to Rahul, who first got a hundred as a starter and then posted scores of more than 80 while batting at number five, ”Manjrekar told ANI.
India’s problem in cue ball cricket has long been four-six. At the World Cup, that hurt India a lot and I think this area needs to be addressed. That’s why I feel like Rahul needs to hit number five because he has done so well at that position and India needs a reliable middle order. Mayank Agarwal has a test temperament type and its recent form can be used by India at the top of the order, ”he added.
Both Mayank and Rahul weren’t able to contribute much with the bat in the first ODI against Australia. Mayanka hit 22 of 18 balls, while Rahul was ejected after scoring 12 runs.
.
