Gautam Gambhir asserts: 'We decide India's XI, not social media and experts': KL Rahul's position in 2nd Test vs NZ debated.

Despite his impressive performance of scoring 68 runs in the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur, KL Rahul is facing scrutiny and uncertainty over his position in India's middle order. Questions have emerged after Sarfaraz Khan's remarkable knock of 150 in the first Test against New Zealand. Additionally, Shubman Gill is set to return to the team after recovering from a neck strain. The decision on who will make way for Shubman between Sarfaraz and Rahul is yet to be determined. However, head coach Gautam Gambhir has expressed his support for KL Rahul, stating that the current management is committed to backing its players during challenging times.

KL Rahul had even scored a fantastic century in Centurion against South Africa, but the failure in the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, has made several pundits question his spot and form.

"First of all, social media does not matter one bit. You do not pick players because of the social media or what the experts think. What the team management thinks, what the leadership group thinks, is very very important. Ultimately, everyone is judged, international cricket is about being judged. Everyone's performance will be judged eventually," Gambhir said at the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

"But I feel he is batting really well, he has had a decent knock in Kanpur, obviously on a difficult wicket and he played according to the plans. He would be knowing that he wants to score big runs, he has that capability of scoring these big runs that is why he is being backed by the team management," he added.

Rahul has so far played 53 Tests, scoring 2,981 runs at an underwhelming average of 33.87. However, it is important to mention that it is just now that the batter has gotten a fixed position to bat upon, as earlier he batted as an opener and then as a middle-order option.

Gautam Gambhir also provided an update on Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill. The former India opening batter said that Pant will indeed be keeping the wickets tomorrow.

"He (Gill) was injured in the last game due to an injury. It was because of an injury that he missed the previous game. He has been in great touch. We have not decided the playing XI. We will decide tomorrow and whatever team we decide, they'll go out to win," said Gambhir.

Regarding Pant, Gambhir said, “He's absolutely fine, he'll keep wickets tomorrow. No other fitness concerns."

India had lost the opening Test against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru by eight wickets. The second Test is now a must-win for the hosts if they want to win the series and maintain their perfect home record in the longest format over the last 10 years.

India's last home series loss had come in 2012 when England had stunned the hosts.