‘I look at him as an opening alternative…’ – Former Indian wicketkeeper on KL Rahul

Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, and Shikhar Dhawan last played together in an ODI in March 2021. All four of them have together featured in ODIs 15 times. It clearly shows that it is very difficult for the management to keep all four of them in the playing XI at the same time for India. 

However, it may be possible that we can witness the four playing together in the upcoming three-match  ODI series against Bangladesh starting on December 4. Whenever Dhawan, Rohit, and Rahul played together, Rahul never opened. He has grabbed a fair amount of success in the middle order. He made the No. 4 and No. 5 of his own when he was given wicketkeeping duties for a short period. But he made it clear that he doesn’t want to keep instead he is interested in opening.  

Former Indian selector Saba Karim feels that it is difficult for Rahul to make it to the playing 11 for the first ODI against the Bangla tigers on Sunday. “I look at him more as an opening alternative to Dhawan and Rohit. He’s just a classy player. It’s just a matter of time when he can strike form. Having said that, I really don’t know at what number he will come in. If not as opener, do we use him in the middle order? If we do, can we give him a long rope there because there are so many other contenders there. This is something that needs to be settled as soon as possible by the captain and the team management,” he said in a select media interaction organized by Sony Sports Network. 

India are now looking to have that sixth bowling option: Saba Karim

The former Indian cricketer made it clear that Shreyas Iyer will be his preferred choice ahead of Rahul. He also highlighted the need for a sixth bowling option in Team India. In the last two ODIs against New Zealand, Sanju Samson was dropped from the playing XI and in place of him Deepak Hooda was included in the squad. 

“Playing all three (Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant) seems difficult. When you have Virat Kohli coming back in the mix. He will bat at No.3. Then suppose you put Shreyas Iyer at No.4 then you are left with only two spots. India are now looking to have that sixth bowling option from their top six. If that is the case then that leaves very little space for one more middle-order batter to come in. I’ll look at Iyer because he has done very well in the New Zealand series as well. He should occupy the No.4 spot, then you are left with Rishabh Pant at No.5 and then you need to have one more bowling option at No.6,” he added.