Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has questioned KL Rahul’s handling
after his century in the second ODI against New Zealand. While saying that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma deserve a fixed batting position because of their achievements, he questioned why the other batters,
unlike Rahul, aren’t made to bat outside their fixed spots. However, Rahul scored an unbeaten 112 off 92 deliveries.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “If you do something very well, it’s considered your strength. Versatility is KL Rahul’s story, but it has become almost a weakness for him, because no one else does that. I am not talking about Virat and Rohit because their career spans have been so long and they have achieved so much. However, say Shubman Gill has an average of 50 as an opener. Will you ever ask him to play at No. 5 because someone is required to bat down the order? No, Shubman Gill will open only. Shreyas Iyer plays at No. 4 and he has an average of 50 there. Will you ask Shreyas Iyer to play at No. 6? No one will ask Shreyas Iyer.”

However, Aakash Chopra added that KL Rahul was moved down the batting order despite having a great record as an opener.

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“What would have been KL Rahul’s average as an opener? If someone starts opening, what is an acceptable average? He has a 40-plus average as an opener. It’s a decent sample size and he has struck three centuries there. So you would think and assume that he has done well. However, he was then removed from opening as he can do anything since his name is Rahul,” he said.

“So when you can do anything, why should you do this only? He was asked to go to No. 4. He said he would do as you say. Guess what his average would have been at No. 4. He has played 13 innings in total there. He has struck two centuries and has an average of 55. In such a scenario, you would say India have got their No. 4 and he can keep as well,” Chopra shared.

“However, they said that’s not enough because your name is Rahul. You can call it the curse or the boon of the name Rahul. He was asked to go to No. 5 as Rishabh Pant was injured. He has played 30-35 innings there, has struck three centuries, and has an average over 50 there also. However, he was asked to adjust and go to No. 6 because it’s fine if there is no left-hander in the top four but a left-hander is required at No. 5. He batted at No. 6 and there too his average is nearly 50. Then someone got injured and he got a chance to play at No. 5. He played and scored a hundred. However, there is still no guarantee that he would continue playing at No. 5,” Aakash Chopra concluded.