BCCI’s selection committee seemed to have responded to KL Rahul and his poor form amid the rising criticism by removing him from his vice-captaincy post. No official statement was made but the response was noticeable as there was no tag of vice-captain beside KL Rahul’s name.
In the series so far, he has managed 38 runs only and averaged 17 in his last 10 innings. The response from the BCCI was quite expected.
Harbhajan Singh has also joined the engrossing debate over KL Rahul’s inclusion in the Indian Test team. When asked about KL Rahul being dropped out of playing XI, he stated, “Because when you are 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 is a 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.”
The change does indicate Rahul’s credibility in the Indian team has taken a hit. The Indian skipper refused to give up on the batter when asked about it in the post-match conference after the conclusion of the second test in Delhi and showed him his full backing. Whether this backing will see him being trusted once again to open in the Indore Test or not will be known in due time.
