‘I would rather not play him…..’ – Gautam Gambhir makes audacious claim about KL Rahul ahead of Test series vs South Africa

Team India is all set to lock horns against South Africa for the two matches of the Test series slated to commence on December 26 in Centurion. Notably, KL Rahul has guided India to a spectacular win in the recently concluded ODI series, where visiting sides crushed the Proteas in the series decider game on December 21 at Boland Park in Paarl.

However, former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir has recently opened up about KL Rahul’s role in the upcoming Test series. The well-renowned cricket commentator does not want a one-sided Test series while calling this scenario unfair. In addition, the great cricketer affirms that KL Rahul’s real challenge is not wicketkeeping but how he performs in the game. The former opening batter has also talked about the Test series against England.

“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,” Gautam Gambhir said on Star Sports.

Things allowing KL Rahul do the job until Rishabh Pant returns: Gautam Gambhir

However, Gautam Gambhir affirms that he would not have played KL Rahul in the upcoming two matches of the Test series by keeping the plans of Team India. Notably, KL Rahul is only the wicketkeeping option as Ishan Kishan has been released from the squad ahead of the Test series. On the other hand, Rishabh Pant is India’s great Test cricketer and is a solid wicketkeeper batter, however, he has not recovered so far, which has forced selectors to go with KL Rahul in the Test series against South Africa.

“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,” he added further.