Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden believes KL Rahul should bat at No. 4 in India’s upcoming Test series against England, identifying him as the ideal successor to the recently retired Virat Kohli in that key position. The five-match series begins in Leeds on June 20.
Although Rahul is expected to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in the first Test, Hayden, speaking on Star Sports’ show Game Plan, suggested that the elegant right-hander would be better suited to the No. 4 slot in the long term.
“I have just got one other issue here as well. KL Rahul, he will open. I am just going to make that call. My problem with that is I believe he is your best player in Test match cricket. He can be a like-for-like replacement of Virat Kohli, absolutely custom-made at No. 4,” he said.
The former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) cricketer highlighted that KL Rahul often gets dismissed by edging the ball to the wicketkeeper or slips.
“The reason why I don’t like him as an opening batter, and we saw this in Australia as well, he gets out 57% of the time caught behind, nicked off. So he looks so technically sound, how amazing is it, and then suddenly he is out,” Hayden observed.
Matthew Hayden Urges India To Shield KL Rahul In English Conditions
During the same discussion, Matthew Hayden emphasized that KL Rahul should be shielded from facing the new ball in England’s testing conditions.
“For me, that bit of protection around your best player, KL Rahul, is a sure thing in English conditions, and maybe the best place to bat in England as well. When the damage is done with the new ball, you can come in and you can just set out your stalls,” he said.
Calling England both the toughest and easiest place to bat, Hayden said he’d slot Rahul at No. 4 if given the choice.
“It can be the hardest place to bat, and then it can be the easiest place to bat in the world as well when the sun is out and it’s shining, and you are just there going ‘Hello, I am batting all day here.’ To me, that’s the key point of difference. It’s not going to happen. I don’t believe, but if I were a selector, that’s what would happen,” Hayden elaborated.
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