In recent times, the Indian opener, KL Rahul has sparked numerous debates in the cricketing fraternity. Such has been the batting form of Rahul’s run with the bat that it has been a near-impossible thing for most experts and fans to unsee. Calls to drop Rahul and play Shubman Gill has gained momentum with each of the former’s failures in the series so far against Australia. However, India head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma showed complete faith in Rahul.

There are different opinions regarding KL Rahul among the cricketing fraternity. While most believe that Rahul has got longer rope than he deserves, a few like Aakash Chopra have inclined towards Dravid and Rohit in backing Rahul.

The former India opener, who indulged in a healthy Twitter debate with former Indian fast bowler, Venkatesh Prasad over Rahul’s position in the Indian Test XI, cited the latter’s numbers in South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia to support his case.

ALSO READ: Matthew Hayden Offers Help To Improve Australia’s Batting Woes

“Indian batters in SENA countries. Maybe, this is the reason selectors/coach/captain are backing KLR. He’s played 2 Tests at home (ongoing BGT) during this period,” Chopra said with screenshots of Rahul’s healthy average of 38.64 – the third-best among all Indian batters after Rohit Sharma and Washington Sundar (only 1 Test) – in SENA countries since 2020.

Indian batters in SENA countries. May be, this is the reason selectors/coach/captain are backing KLR. He’s played 2 Tests at home (ongoing BGT) during this period
No, I don’t need a BCCI role as a selector/coach
I don’t need any mentor, coaching role at any IPL team either 🙏 pic.twitter.com/qV6qo6Plvt

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 21, 2023

Aakash Chopra also highlighted that he doesn’t want a “BCCI role” nor an “IPL team” job and his expressed his views on the basis of stats. He added, “No, I don’t need a BCCI role as a selector/coach. I don’t need any mentor, or coaching role at any IPL team either.” The latter half of his tweet appeared to be in connection to the trolling Venkatesh Prasad has been receiving for his repeated, hard-hitting, and targeted threads against Rahul.

ALSO READ: Dinesh Karthik Opines Some Time Off From The Game Will Help KL Rahul

With centuries in Australia, Sri Lanka, England, West Indies, and South Africa, KL Rahul has proved his ability in Test cricket. No other Indian opener in recent times can boast of a similar record. But, he lacks consistency and despite that, he has got a longer rope than perhaps any other Indian player has received in recent memory

There is a long gap between the second and the third Test (in Indore). The Indian players have been given a five-day break. It will be interesting to see who walks out to open the batting with the captain on March 1.