The former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar suggested that KL Rahul would be a huge asset for India in Test cricket.
Sanjay Bangar on KL Rahul’s future
The former right-hand batter Sanjay Bangar feels KL Rahul could have an impressive career if he continues to bat in the middle order.
KL Rahul has been part of the squad that played in the first test of India’s South Africa tour 2023. He scored a century when the top-order batters were sent out with early dismissals at Centurion Park last week.
While speaking on the media, Bangar suggested that KL Rahul to bat in the middle order could hold India in a good position.
He said, “If he has to continue playing in that particular position, I think it’s going to be a huge plus for India because he is a stroke player. He has batted at various positions and he can bat very well with the tail.”
“We have seen this not only in Test cricket but in other formats of the game as well. So all those things put together indeed make KL Rahul a capable No. 6 who can put India in winning situations in Test matches,” he added.
Sanjay Bangar expects KL Rahul to play as a wicketkeeper batter in the middle order in the second Test against South Africa and the following Test series against England.
He also mentioned that it will be a huge competition to play for India as the specialist middle order batter Rishabh Pant’s comeback could fill out the role in the Indian squad.
He recalled that KL Rahul did not have a great debut against Australia in the Boxing Day Test of 2014.
He said, “I was part of the dressing room when he got a chance in the Melbourne Test in 2014. He batted at No. 5 or No. 6 and was probably dismissed while playing the sweep shot in the first innings. So the start was not good.”
“However, he scored centuries in the Boxing Day Tests of 2021 and 2023 in Centurion. If you perform well in any place, you have good memories of that place and when you go back to that place, your confidence is much better,” he added.
Sanjay Bangar feels KL Rahul’s previous century in Centurion helped his cause when he returned to the venue for the recently concluded Test against the Proteas. He expressed that the batter is not at his limits and could bat in the same way throughout the year.
India and the proteas men will be playing their second and final test of India’s South Africa tour of 2023 at Newlands Cricket Ground.
