‘Maybe Easwaran hasn’t convinced them’: Sanjay Manjrekar criticizes selectors’ persistent backing of KL Rahul
New Delhi: Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has stated that the team management should prioritize selecting players who genuinely deserve an opportunity, rather than those they may favor personally. His comments come amid ongoing criticism of KL Rahul, who, despite having played 53 Tests in the past decade, holds a modest average of 33.87 and has faced scrutiny for his inconsistent form over the past year.
KL Rahul’s recent form in Test cricket has been less than encouraging. However, if India’s captain Rohit Sharma is unavailable for the first match, Rahul remains a likely candidate to step in as his replacement.
KL Rahul is still included in the Indian squad for the upcoming Test series in Australia. While his place in the XI is uncertain when Rohit Sharma is available, no official decision on his role has been announced yet.
“So that is the time when you go back and do the right thing. And play players who deserve to get a chance. KL Rahul. You know, I don’t know, there’s some fascination that the team management, selectors have for him that they just want him part of the playing 11, whether it’s at the top or down the order,” Manjrekar said while speaking on ESPNCricinfo.
“Maybe Abhimanyu Easwaran hasn’t convinced them as much. But it’s not for us to play God and decide that maybe Easwaran won’t get run in the Test. We’ve had many examples in the past where players have surprised you with their performances,” Manjrekar added.
KL Rahul was sent to Australia ahead of the main squad to play in the second game for India A against Australia A. However, he struggled, managing only four and 10 runs in his two innings.
Sanjay Manjrekar commented that KL Rahul’s elevation to opener for India A ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy suggests a sense of panic within the team management. Previously batting at No. 6 in his last Test, Rahul was promptly moved up to the opening position, likely in response to the possibility that Rohit Sharma may not play in Perth.