Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif said that KL Rahul doesn’t deserve a spot in the team when Shubman Gill is in the Indian squad. Rahul failed to impress in the first two Border-Gavaskar Trophy Tests.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Feb 24, 2023 10:33 IST
Latif said Rahul shouldn’t be in the lineup when Gill is there in the squad (Courtesy: AP/PTI)
By India Today Sports Desk: Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif said that KL Rahul doesn’t deserve to be in the Indian playing XI when Shubman Gill is there in the squad.
Gill has been in sensational form for India in all formats and has been pushed by many to be the opener for the team alongside Rohit Sharma. However, KL Rahul has endured a torrid time with the bat and has been struggling to get into rhythm.
Rahul was preferred over Gill for the first two Border-Gavaskar Trophy Tests but he failed to make an impact with the bat. The opener registered scores of 20, 17 and one and many feel he should make way for the youngster for the remainder of the series.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, as quoted by Hindustan Times, Latif said that Rahul doesn’t deserve to be in the lineup when Gill is there in the squad.
The former Pakistan captain further commented and took a shot at the Indian team management for wanting to play Rahul.
“Ye (Rahul) deserve hi nahi karte Shubman Gill ke hote hue. Bahaana kuch bhi nahi hai, bas inho ko khilaana hai. (Rahul doesn’t even deserve a spot in the XI when Shubman Gill is there. There is no excuse here. The management just want to play him (Rahul),” said Latif.
India had named an unchanged squad for the remainder of the Border-Gavaskar trophy. However, there was an interesting development as the vice-captain tag next to Rahul’s name was missing.
Harbhajan Singh commented on the matter and said that it will be now easier for the team management to drop the 31-year-old opener and said that we could see Gill opening with Sharma.
“Well, I guess so. Because when you’re not the vice-captain, it becomes easier for the management and selectors to make you sit out. Once you’re a vice-captain, no matter what sort of performances you have given, you’re still featured in those eleven guys who will participate in the game. But not that vc tag is not there. with KL Rahul, you know he’s a quality quality player who’s going through a dry patch where he is not scoring runs. We all know that. But I’m sure he will come good with the bat. But yes, the vc tag is not there, which means we will see Shubman Gill opening with Rohit Sharma,” said Harbhajan.
