Former Indian cricketer Dodda Ganesh has backed KL Rahul to return to India’s T20I squad. Rahul is currently out of India’s T20 plans but is a crucial part of the Test and ODI squads.
The 32-year-old played his last T20I in the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final against England, where India lost by 10 wickets and crashed out of the tournament. After that defeat, India decided to change their approach and be more aggressive in their strokeplay.
Hence, the selectors decided not to consider veterans Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul for the T20I format. However, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returned to the T20I squad earlier this year and were eventually selected for the T20 World Cup.
But Rahul’s approach in T20Is never impressed the selectors. Rahul’s approach in this year’s IPL was also not very good, meaning he was left out of India’s plans for T20Is.
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Dodda Ganesh backs KL Rahul’s return to India’s T20I squad
Former India and Karnataka spinner Dodda Ganesh believes that KL Rahul can still make a comeback in India’s T20I squad. Ganesh also mentioned that Rahul needs to change his approach to the T20 format to be back in India’s plans in T20Is.
“If KL Rahul corrects his strategy in T20s, he can still come back and have a great season for the Indian team in T20Is. He is too good a talent to be missed for long,” Dodda Ganesh posted on X (formerly Twitter).
If KL Rahul rectifies his strategy in T20s, he can still come back and have a great season for the Indian team in T20Is. He is too good a talent to be lost for long. #DoddaMathu #SLvIND
-Dodda Ganesh Dodda Ganesh (@doddaganesha) August 1, 2024
KL Rahul’s strike rate deteriorates in T20 cricket
KL Rahul has been heavily criticised for his slow batting in the T20 format. Even in the IPL, his slow batting has been questioned several times. There have been several occasions when Rahul’s poor batting rates have even cost his team the match.
In the early part of his career, Rahul used to be a brash batsman who used to score runs with ease at the top. He still holds the record for the second-fastest fifty in the IPL, which he scored off just 14 balls for Kings XI Punjab against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2018.
But his approach changed over time and he now plays the role of an anchor. In today’s T20 cricket, Indian selectors are looking for someone who can play more aggressive cricket and KL Rahul certainly doesn’t seem to fit those expectations.
However, Rahul remains an integral part of India’s Test and ODI teams. He is in the ODI squad for the tour of Sri Lanka, where he will battle for the wicketkeeper’s spot with Rishabh Pant.
