Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has said that KL Rahul should bat at No. 4 in India’s upcoming Test series against England as well. He also stated that Rahul is the ideal replacement for the retired Virat Kohli at
that position as well. However, India will take on England in a five-match Test series, with the first game starting in Leeds on June 20 as well.

During a discussion on the Star Sports show ‘Game Plan,’ Hayden said, “I have just got one other issue here as well. KL Rahul, he will open. I am just going to make that call. My problem with that is I believe he is your best player in Test match cricket. He can be a like-for-like replacement of Virat Kohli, absolutely custom-made at No. 4. The reason why I don’t like him as an opening batter, and we saw this in Australia as well, he gets out 57% of the time caught behind, nicked off. So he looks so technically sound, how amazing is it, and then suddenly he is out.”

ALSO READ: “He is the most successful Indian Test captain” – Aakash Chopra on Virat Kohli

However, Matthew Hayden also stated that KL Rahul needs to be protected against the new ball in English conditions as well.

“For me, that bit of protection around your best player, KL Rahul, is a sure thing in English conditions, and maybe the best place to bat in England as well. When the damage is done with the new ball, you can come in and you can just set out your stalls,” he said.

“It can be the hardest place to bat, and then it can be the easiest place to bat in the world as well when the sun is out and it’s shining, and you are just there going ‘Hello, I am batting all day here.’ To me, that’s the key point of difference. It’s not going to happen. I don’t believe, but if I were a selector, that’s what would happen,” Matthew Hayden concluded.