Former India skipper Kapil Dev feels that KL Rahul should not be in the XI, only because is the vice-captain. He expressed that if the wicket-keeper batter doesn’t fit in the team, he needs to be dropped. KL Rahul hasn’t been amongst runs recently and has struggled to make an impact.
In 2022, the right-handed batter played four Test matches, scoring 137 runs at an average of 17.12, including a fifty. Former cricketer Harbhajan Singh recently predicted India’s XI and left out the vice-captain. Kapil Dev also feels that KL Rahul should be dropped, if he doesn’t fit in the team. Speaking to Uncut, he said,
“Why can’t he be dropped? There should be no such rule. You need to look at team combination, who do we need. There is no necessity. In Indian cricket, I don’t think there is ever a vice-captain. Back in the day, we had a new VC in every Test match. He is a very mature player; I even like him.”
The team comes first, the captain and management need to take a call: Kapil Dev
Legendary cricketer Kapil Dev further expressed that the team should come first, and the individual player later. He added that the management and the captain need to take a call thinking about the team. The Indian team has KS Bharat in their ranks, as a wicket-keeping option. Kapil Dev said,
“I consider him to be a fine batter but if he doesn’t fit in the team, then let it be. The team comes first and I guess for that the captain and the management need to take a call. Some players are lucky. Rahul Dravid too played many such matches where he was made to keep wicket.”
The first test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia will begin on Thursday, February 9 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur.
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