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Dodda Ganesh Says India Wasted KL Rahul by Changing His Batting Position
By CricShots - Jul 20, 2026 5:39 pm
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Former India cricketer Dodda Ganesh has strongly criticised Team India’s handling of KL Rahul during the recently concluded ODI series against England, arguing that the management has failed to make the best use of one of the country’s most versatile batters. Following India’s 2-1 series defeat, Ganesh questioned the decision to push Rahul down the batting order despite his outstanding record at No. 5 in One-Day Internationals.

KL Rahul
KL Rahul

Rahul entered the England series in excellent form after an impressive IPL 2026 campaign with the Delhi Capitals. However, instead of allowing him to continue in his most successful ODI position, the Gautam Gambhir-led team management repeatedly shuffled the batting order, leaving the wicketkeeper-batter with limited opportunities to make a meaningful impact.

Expressing his frustration on social media, Ganesh shared an image of a dust-covered Ferrari to symbolise Rahul’s current role in the Indian team. Comparing the stylish batter to a high-performance sports car left unused, the former Karnataka pacer suggested that India were wasting one of their finest ODI assets.

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“KL Rahul, after owning No. 5 with unreal numbers, being pushed to No. 6 looks something like this. Absolute waste of a genuine batter,” Ganesh wrote on X.

The debate intensified after the third ODI at Lord’s. Chasing a daunting target of 388, India received an excellent platform from Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli. Yet, when wickets began to fall, the management promoted Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer ahead of Rahul, sending the experienced batter in at No. 6.

Rahul managed only 12 runs from eight balls before being dismissed. While the innings drew criticism from some fans, Ganesh argued that Rahul was placed in an extremely difficult situation, arriving at the crease when the required run rate had already escalated significantly.

The numbers strongly support Ganesh’s argument. Batting at No. 5 in ODIs, Rahul has amassed 1,517 runs in 35 matches at a remarkable average of 63.20, including three centuries and 10 half-centuries. By comparison, his record at No. 6 is considerably less impressive, averaging 34.50 across 15 innings.

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According to Ganesh, India’s tactical decisions have prevented Rahul from maximising his strengths while also making him an easy target whenever the team falls short. In another post on X, Ganesh defended Rahul against the criticism he has received on social media.

“The reason KL Rahul faces so much hate and bullying online despite his unreal numbers and versatility in ODIs is accounts like these. The game was practically over by the time KL came to bat at No. 6, but who gets the blame? It’s KL again. At this rate, KL could even be blamed for Indian diplomatic relations with the rest of the world,” he wrote.

With India now shifting focus to future ODI assignments and the road to the 2027 World Cup, Rahul’s batting position is expected to remain a key talking point. Given his exceptional numbers at No. 5, many believe the team management must provide greater role clarity if they want to get the best out of one of India’s most dependable white-ball performers.

Tags batting positionDodda GaneshGautam GambhirKL RahulTeam India