Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar slammed the team management for their obsession to play with out-of-form batter KL Rahul in Tests ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Despite playing 53 Tests in his long career, Rahul averages only 33.87 as well. His recent Test form has not at all impressive with an average of only 33.42 in 2024, following averages of 17.12 and 28.60 in 2022 and 2023,
respectively. Yet, he remains part of the Indian squad for the upcoming Australia Tests.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Manjrekar said, “So that is the time when you go back and do the right thing. And play players who deserve to get a chance. KL Rahul. You know, I don’t know, there’s some fascination that the team management, selectors have for him that they just want him part of the playing 11, whether it’s at the top or down the order.”

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“Maybe Abhimanyu Easwaran hasn’t convinced them as much. But it’s not for us to play God and decide that maybe Abhimanyu Easwaran won’t get run in the Test match. We’ve had many examples in the past where players have surprised you by the performances. Sometimes you yourself are surprised by your own sort of performance as to the height that you reach. So keep it simple and make the right choice,” Manjrekar further added.

Sanjay Manjrekar also felt Team India went into panic mode with the move to open with KL Rahul in the India A-Australia A match before the BorderGavaskar Trophy. Rahul was reportedly bat at No.6 in Australia before the sudden move to open for India A ahead of the Test series Down Under as Rohit’s possible replacement in the first Test as well.

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“Clearly, India is in panic mode. They are a bit shaken by what happened against New Zealand at home. And that’s when plans start to go awry. And that is where I believe that one has to actually look at it in a different way, where you think there’s nothing to lose here. I would actually say KL Rahul should consider himself very lucky to be getting opportunities. Such comebacks and opportunities, very few players over the years in the history of Indian cricket have been given this kind of a deal. He’s got 100 in Australia. So that is why he keeps coming back into plans. Now the average has dropped to 33 after 50 Test matches. I guess somewhere they hope that KL Rahul might find that form that he’s capable of,” Sanjay Manjrekar concluded.