KL Rahul is an ideal batsman to enchant fans of traditional batting. His beautiful strokes and remarkable drives are a large piece of his batting, however he has not been able to reliably exhibit his full potential in Test cricket. Despite having the potential to show off all the amazing shots in his arsenal, he has yet to reach his full potential.
Rahul has had a tumultuous Test career, punctuated by a few striking successes but primarily characterised by a series of failures that have become more frequent over time. The statistics are not encouraging, with his batting average remaining low even after 8 years and 46 Test matches.
Given his unreliable performances, how much longer can India continue to give KL Rahul chances while there are plenty of local players eager to be included in the team? We will evaluate what has gone wrong for Rahul and look at who could potentially take his spot in the starting lineup.
When did the decline begin?
Rahul’s most successful period in Test cricket was between 2016-17. In 2018, his stats began to decline and since then, he has scored 1196 runs in 25 matches with an average of 26.57. The only year in which he exceeded the batting average of 25 was 2021.
Should India make the difficult decision?
Considering the amount of time Rahul has been provided, it is reasonable. Indian selectors have typically been generous in granting more chances to experienced players, but the moment has come to look past KL Rahul.
Who is a suitable alternative to KL Rahul in the starting lineup?
When it comes to picking Test openers, India has a wealth of options. The current favourite is Shubman Gill, who has been playing exceptionally well as of late. Prithvi Shaw and Yashasvi Jaiswal have both been putting in impressive performances in domestic play. Abhimanyu Easwaran has been patiently waiting for his chance for over six years, and Mayank Agarwal, who has had a successful career of home Tests, is another possibility.
