Former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu has recently suggested that KL Rahul should bat at No. 3 or No. 4 for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to strengthen his case for the T20 World Cup 2024 squad. This recommendation comes amidst the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), where Rahul has been opening for LSG.
KL Rahul, a seasoned cricketer, has established himself as an indispensable asset in both ODIs and Tests. However, his position in the T20Is is not as secure. It has been 492 days since Rahul last played a T20I for India, with his last appearance in the T20 World Cup in 2022.
Despite his absence from the T20I side, Rahul has an outside chance of making it to the T20 World Cup in June. For this to happen, Rayudu suggests that Rahul should make a drastic shift in IPL 2024 and bat in the middle order. This is a position he has not occupied in the IPL since 2016.
Ambati Rayudu’s opines about KL Rahul’s chances at T20 WC
Rayudu’s suggestion is based on two main reasons. Firstly, India already has a surplus of openers, with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Rohit Sharma all likely to make it to the final fifteen. Even if Rahul has the best IPL 2024 among the lot, it is highly unlikely that he will leapfrog these players.
Secondly, there is a vacancy for the wicketkeeper’s slot down the order, for which Rahul will be contesting. Jitesh Sharma, the incumbent and the favourite to start the T20WC as India’s first-choice wicket-keeper, bats in the middle order. So does Sanju Samson, another prime contender for the WK slot.
“KL Rahul still has to get back to form. I think he is going to return to form, soon. I think he should be batting at No. 3 or No. 4 if he has to stay in the reckoning for the Indian team because there are already too many openers who are contending for the spot. And it will be good for LSG if he can come in the middle-overs and stay till the end. That’s what the Indian team needs as well,” Ambati Rayudu said.
Rahul’s performance this season has been lacklustre, accumulating just 126 runs in four matches at a disappointing strike rate of 128.57. Despite achieving a half-century, his efforts were in vain as his team ended up losing. A notable concern arose as Rahul’s strike rate saw a drastic decline after the initial 20 balls of his innings.
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 to strengthen his case for the T20 World Cup 2024 squad. This recommendation comes amidst the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), where Rahul has been opening for LSG.){kind=link}