Former India Opener Criticizes Averaging of 33 in 53 Matches for KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan in the Selection for IND vs NZ 2024 2nd Test

New Delhi: Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra believes that Team India faces a tough decision between KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan for the second Test against New Zealand. Chopra highlighted that Rahul, who has been batting at no. 6, has struggled to consistently perform in Test matches.

The second game of the three-match series is scheduled to start in Pune on Thursday, October 24. With Shubman Gill likely to return to the XI, either KL Rahul or Sarfaraz Khan might have to make way if the hosts persist with five frontline bowlers.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, the former India opener opined that Rahul’s Test record might force the team management to reconsider their pre-series thought of persisting with him at no.6

“This Indian team have followed a philosophy that if the original choice player becomes fit and available, he will return and whoever has played in his place will go out. Secondly, when there was a question before the first Test that who would go at No. 3, the captain and coach said they were feeling very comfortable with playing Rahul at six and they didn’t want to move him,” he said (4:10).

“It seems like they were thinking that it’s a makeshift. Now that Sarfaraz has scored a century and Rahul has failed in the two innings, a big question has come. I was seeing KL Rahul’s numbers. The numbers are not that good. An average of 33 in 53 matches is not great,” Chopra added.

Aakash Chopra pointed out that KL Rahul has played more substantial knock overseas conditions, adding that only one of his eight Test centuries has come in India.