IND vs NZ: Did India Make a Grave Mistake by Dropping KL Rahul in the Pune Test?

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Team India's decision to drop KL Rahul for the ongoing Pune Test against New Zealand has raised eyebrows, after the hosts' struggles against New Zealand's quality spin attack on a rank-turner.

Excluding KL Rahul turned out to be a mistake, given the cricketer's performance at this particular venue back in 2017. The Bengaluru-born cricketer has a proven track record in going about his work in Pune.

When KL Rahul was the only shining light for India in 2017 Pune Test

During the 2016-17 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series against Australia on a notoriously challenging pitch in Pune, the right-hander stood tall against the spin onslaught.

Amidst wickets falling around like a pack of cards, Rahul rose to the occasion and pitched in with 64 runs, including 10 fours and a six, which was the highest score for India in that innings. When all other top batters fell prey to Steve O'Keefe's spin web, Rahul showcased skill and temperament to handle the unpredictable bounce and sharp turn on a rank-turner.

The Indian think-tank could have given it a thought about including Rahul in the Pune Test, given his proven performance in this venue. India lost wickets at regular intervals to spin, with Mitchell Santner picking seven and Glenn Phillips taking two wickets.

Had KL Rahul been there in the mix, he could have offered stability and kept the scoreboard ticking. India dropped Rahul due to his uninspiring performances in the Bengaluru Test, where he returned with scores of 0 and 12. However, dropping a player of his calibre might have been a misjudgment.

Taking his past performance into account, India should have given Rahul a chance to regain form on a pitch like Pune’s, a calculated risk worth taking but that wasn't meant to be.

Meanwhile, New Zealand are in a commanding position in the ongoing Test against India with a massive chunk of 301 runs already. The Kiwis ended Day 2 with 198/5 and will be looking to add more runs to the scoreboard in an attempt to win the game and the series.