Kris Srikkanth Backs KL Rahul for No. 5 Position in Upcoming Test Against Bangladesh
Former Indian cricketer Kris Srikkanth has voiced his support for KL Rahul to secure the No. 5 batting position in the Indian lineup for the first Test against Bangladesh, scheduled to commence on September 19 in Chennai. Despite Sarfaraz Khan’s impressive performances earlier this year, Srikkanth believes that Rahul should retain his spot.
Rahul’s Injury and Sarfaraz’s Opportunity
KL Rahul was sidelined for a significant portion of the England Test series due to an injury, which opened the door for Sarfaraz Khan to showcase his talent. During this opportunity, Sarfaraz accumulated a total of 200 runs at an average of 50, demonstrating his capability as a strong contender.
However, during a recent discussion on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth expressed empathy towards Sarfaraz but emphasized that such situations are common in Test cricket. He remarked, “I genuinely feel sorry for Sarfaraz Khan. This is part and parcel of cricket; you can be performing well but when a prominent player returns from injury, it often leads to changes in team selection.”
Experience Matters: Looking Ahead
Srikkanth also pointed out that selectors are likely considering future challenges as they prepare for upcoming series against Australia and New Zealand. He highlighted Rahul’s past successes overseas as crucial factors influencing their decision-making process: “They must keep the Australia series in mind too; KL has shown he can perform well under challenging conditions abroad.”
Recent Performances Strengthen Selection Case
Rahul’s recent outings have further bolstered his case for inclusion; he scored 37 and 57 runs during matches in the Duleep Trophy tournament. Meanwhile, India’s top four batsmen appear settled with Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli leading the charge at positions one through four respectively.
Rishabh Pant is anticipated to take up position No.6 as wicketkeeper-batsman which leaves selectors with a critical choice between KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan at No.5.
Sarfaraz’s Challenge Ahead of Bangladesh Series
Sarfaraz’s performance during Duleep Trophy—where he managed scores of just 9 and then improved with a score of 46—adds complexity to selection discussions ahead of facing Bangladesh. The Indian team aims not only to field its strongest squad against Bangladesh but also looks forward strategically towards future encounters with New Zealand and Australia.
while both players have made compelling cases through their performances recently—Rahul with experience on foreign soil versus Sarfaraz’s emerging talent—the final decision will ultimately rest upon how selectors weigh immediate needs against long-term strategy as they build their squad moving forward into these crucial test matches.
Student at Government College of Engineering Kolkata and an enthusiastic Journalist. Follows Topics such as Indian Politics, Gaming, Anime, etc. Click on the bell icon for more news and opinions from Srijan.
