IND vs ENG: KL Rahul's below average performance with the bat might lead to Rishabh Pant getting a chance in Ahmedabad
The second match of the three-match ODI series between India and England was played on 9 February (Sunday) at Barabaati Stadium of Cuttack and in this game, the Indian Team secured an easy win by a margin of four wickets and took an unassailable lead of 2-0. Skipper Rohit Sharma played a fiery knock of 119 runs in 90 deliveries, which consisted of 12 fours and seven sixes.
KL Rahul's below par performance with the bat continues
The return of Rohit Sharma to his explosive form was a good news for the Indian fans but wicketkeeper batter KL Rahul delivered yet another disappointing performance with the bat in this match as well. He returned to dugout after scoring just 10 runs and even in the previous match of the series, the 31-year-old managed to score just two runs.
In both games, the former LSG skipper had a chance to apply the finishing touches but, he returned to the pavilion and failed to help the Men in Blue get over the line.
Even in last year's Sri Lanka tour, Rahul wasn't able to do anything special with the bat, managing to score just 31 runs in two innings. Rishabh Pant replaced him in the side in the 3rd ODI. If we take a close look at his stats, then we get to know that Rahul has amassed just 43 runs in the last four One-Day International games at a miserable average of 10.75, which goes on to reflect his struggles in the format.
Rahul's glove work was also poor in the Cuttack ODI as his mistake led to Joe Root getting a lifeline. On his advice, skipper Rohit Sharma decided not to take the DRS review versus Root but the replays later showed that the ball was hitting the stumps.
After watching the replays, skipper Rohit regretted the decision of not taking the DRS and was very pissed off with KL Rahul. A wicketkeeper's advice is very important in taking a call of DRS reviews for LBW.
Will Pant get a chance to play in the 3rd ODI?
The question which arises here is, will the Indian team management carry on with KL Rahul as the main wicketkeeper in the 3rd & Final ODI of the series in Ahmedabad? Wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant is a part of the squad as well and the 27-year-old is a better wicketkeeper than KL Rahul and also has a lot of experience of keeping the wickets on bouncy & spinning tracks.
The newly appointed LSG skipper has participated in 31 One-Day International matches for the Men in Blue, where he has managed to score 871 runs at a decent average of 33.50. He has also slammed five fifties and a century in the format.
KL Rahul, on the other hand, has amassed 2,863 runs in 79 ODI games at an average of 47.71 with the help of seven hundreds and 18 fifties. While the statistics of the latter are better than the former, constant failures of the latter with the bat is increasing the tension of the Indian team management ahead of Champions Trophy 2025.The team management would definitely want to give an attacking batsman like Pant a chance to prove himself before the commencement of the Champions Trophy.
