The veteran Indian wicket-keeper batter, Dinesh Karthik has said that under-fire opener KL Rahul might need to take some time off from Test cricket. India will be hosting Australia in the third Test of the four-match Border-Gavaskar series on March 1 in Indore. Speaking to Cricbuzz, Karthik said Rahul being dropped has become an eventuality, not because of his last innings but his form since the last five-six Test matches.

As per the quotes in India Today, Dinesh Karthik said, “I think he [KL Rahul] played the best shot possible to that ball. But he would also know that if he is going to be dropped for the remaining matches, which is pretty much an eventuality, it is not because of this one innings. It is because of what has happened and transpired over the last five or six Test matches.”

Dinesh Karthik went on to say that it will be better for Rahul to take some time off from the game and come back fresh for the ODI series against Australia.

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The veteran wicket-keeper batter explained, “He is a class player and is very good in all formats. But at this point in time, I don’t think it’s the technique. I think it’s because of what happens between the ears that’s really troubling him. He might need some time off from the game to go back and come back fresh for the ODIs.”

Dinesh Karthik said that Shubman Gill should come in for Rahul since he has batted beautifully recently. Gill scored a century against New Zealand in the last match that he played for India.

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Recalling the same, Dinesh Karthik said, “I have to go with Shubman Gill, he’s just batted beautifully. There will be just one change in the playing XI. I feel very bad for KL Rahul, I think he’s been under the scanner.”

India has taken a 2-0 lead in the four-match Test series, and is set to face the Baggy Green in the third match of the series at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on March 1.