KL Rahul’s to-and-fro position in the Indian Test team has sparked renewed argument among ex-cricketers, with Deep Dasgupta and Sanjay Manjrekar sharing differing opinions in a Star Sports discussion before India bat against England at Headingley.
Dasgupta, who was a wicketkeeper for India, said that Rahul has been given unfair treatment by the BCCI, attributing his modest Test average of 33.57 from playing 58 matches to a lack of consistency in his batting role over the last ten years.
“See, I just hope that they offer him a permanent role now. He debuted in 2014. It’s been over ten years, yet we don’t know where does he belong in the Indian Test team? Is he a middle-order batsman? Is he an opener?” Dasgupta wondered.
He underlined that Rahul’s career has been influenced more by team needs rather than individual consistency, stating the batter tends to change roles from opener to middle-order, even wicketkeeper, depending on team demands.
“It’s like KL Rahul is attempting to secure his spot from series to series. You want a wicketkeeper in South Africa, call him. You want a No. 5, call him. Opener? Sure… It’s been ten years now. Come on. Provide him with that series… and inform him here’s the manner in which we’re viewing you – as an opener – and play him,” Dasgupta implored.
Manjrekar Asserts Rahul Has Failed at Any Batting Spot
In recognizing Rahul’s batting positional adjustments, Sanjay Manjrekar provided a biting counterpoint, painting the picture that Rahul’s own inconsistency, and not poor team management, lies at the core of his disappointing Test career.
“Can’t I disagree? I will be polite. I think KL Rahul hasn’t delivered the sort of consistency that’s expected of him at any spot,” Manjrekar stated.
He said that Rahul‘s statistics have not warranted a permanent position, and that the best performers are never replaced unless they perform poorly.
“If this is a man who has averaged 52 as an opener, no one would even think about dropping him to No. 4 or No. 5,” Manjrekar further said.
Even though Rahul has played more than 2800 runs as an opener, since he became inconsistent, the selectors have felt it is right to try him out in a different batting position. In his six games at no. 6, Rahul has managed to score merely 234 runs.
Manjrekar wrapped up by accepting Rahul’s technical strength but argued that performance eventually has to drive selection.
“Massive responsibility on him. And Deep, after your evaluation of leaving the balls, let’s see how Rahul approaches it today,” he said.
The Bigger Picture: Rahul’s Place Still Unclear
KL Rahul’s Test career is still one of the most puzzling in recent Indian cricket history. Injuries, batting issues, and selection overhauls have all contributed to his uncertain position in the XI.
Whereas Dasgupta urges clear thinking and sustained investment, Manjrekar insists on performance-based selection — a divergence from the wider Indian cricket debate between cultivating talent or rewarding success.
As the Tests roll on, everyone’s eyes will be on KL Rahul, whose next couple of innings can well decide which of the two schools of thought is correct.