KL Rahul has not had the best time with the bat in any format in a long time. He has failed to deliver and fans have been questioning his place in the Playing XI. On the other hand, the Indian Team Management has shown complete trust in the opening batter despite his poor run.
Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid have now also included Rahul in the Playing XI for the second Test match against Australia. The second match of the series is currently underway at the Arun Jaitely Stadium in Delhi.
Fans expected in-form Shubman Gill to be given a chance in the XI in place of Rahul, who struggled in the first match in Nagpur. In the 72 balls he faced in the inning, the 30-year-old scored 20 runs. In India’s only batting innings, he gave up his wicket to debutant Todd Murphy.
Aakash Chopra, on the other hand, previously stated that KL Rahul is being unfairly targeted and that the opener should be retained in India’s playing XI for the second Test against Australia. “I don’t see much scope for change in the Indian batting. Only one – Shreyas Iyer will come and Suryakumar Yadav will go. A little pressure has been created on KL Rahul. I hope he has a good match because the guy plays well and people are unnecessarily targeting him,” he said in a video published on his YouTube channel.
Chopra went on to say that KL Rahul should not be dropped simply because an in-form Shubman Gill is waiting in the wings. “I know Shubman (Gill) is sitting outside but the incumbent player does not become bad because someone is sitting out. It is Cheteshwar Pujara’s 100th Test, so I am expecting him to have a good game,” he added.
India’s Playing XI for the second Test against Australia
Rohit Sharma(c), KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Srikar Bharat(w), Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj
Here is how Twitter reacted to KL Rahul’s inclusion
KL Rahul has got powerful luck ! Come what may he will never get dropped !
— sam (@indoriitweeter) February 17, 2023
Seems like KL Rahul will leak team india's dark secrets if they drop him. Cant believe this chutiya is still in the team ahead of Shubhman Gill. #INDvAUS
— Robin Saini (@RSK_Robin) February 17, 2023
Why there is no shubhman gill is in team, and KL rahul is in team? Is this favouritism or not?? As entire nation know that suubhamn is in excellent form and rahul is in very poor form, then how can BCCI insult shubhman?? This is very too bad….. ??
— Pallavkumar (@Pallavk16248097) February 17, 2023
Why @klrahul is in playing x1!!?#INDvAUS
— Priyadarshi Mukesh (@mukesh2748) February 17, 2023
Thanks for your services @klrahul
Surely this should be your last match for India. #BCCI #KLRahul— Tarsem Bhullar (@thesambhullar) February 17, 2023
Bsdk kl Rahul ko nikal
— Lone Walker (@LonewalkerChess) February 17, 2023
So, #KLRahul selected again.
Now, as many #Indian batsmen have done in the past, he,too, will score a century & seal his position in the team for next 50 matches without doing much again.— Adwait Ainapure (@adwaitainapure) February 17, 2023
I lost respect for rahul dravid rohit after selection of kl rahul.. I think they hv no idea or knowledge of cricket.
— Ashok (@aks11179905) February 17, 2023
how many chances this ? #KLRahul gets ??? he’s not at all performing for #TeamIndia in any format.if you’re this partial towards him why not towards against capable players like mayank ?? shame on you @BCCI.#INDvAUS #INDvsAUS https://t.co/aIizgwqHri
— K (@tweetsbyhk) February 17, 2023
Kl rahul ????? ?? ?????
— Ritesht Tiwari ?? (@Riteshtt) February 17, 2023
