India vs Australia: 'Fair to give KL Rahul another opportunity,' Sunil Gavaskar backs opener for 2nd Test

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India great Sunil Gavaskar has backed opener KL Rahul for the second Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Delhi. The 30-year-old was dismissed for 20 off 71 balls in the only innings India played in the Nagpur Test which they won by an innings and 132-run margin in Nagpur. The right-hander successfully forged a 76-run partnership with captain Rohit Sharma for the opening wickets but looked very under-confident during his stay which ended in the penultimate over of Day 1 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground.

Rahul's place in the eleven had already garnered attention as he was picked over in-form Shubman Gill. During the Bangladesh Test series in December, Gill had scored 157 runs at an average of 39.25 in two matches. He also brought his maiden Test ton on tour. On the flip side, a struggling Rahul could manage only 57 runs in two matches at an average of 14.25. In 2022, the Karnataka batter played four Tests and scored 137 runs at an average of 17.12.

Gavaskar has reckoned that it would be "fair" to give Rahul another opportunity as he "has been a regular part of Test XI".

"It's a tough call because you have someone like Shubman Gill waiting in the wings. And what we have seen from Axar Patel, he has been brilliant. Just tells you the bench strength is ready and waiting to be given an opportunity," Sunil Gavaskar told India Today after India won the first Test in Nagpur.

"My feeling is that Rahul will get to play in the next Test in Delhi. Maybe after that, they might have a look at it. But it is also fair for somebody who has been a regular part of Test XI to be given another opportunity," he added.

Notably, India batting coach Vikram Rathour backed Rahul, saying that the team management is not thinking about dropping the vice-captain from the side.

"To be fair to KL, the last 10 Test innings that he has played, he has a couple of hundreds and a couple of fifties. He has a hundred in South Africa, in England. I don't think we are there," Rathour had said.

Venkatesh Prasad comes down hard on KL Rahul

Following the right-hander's ordinary outing in the Nagpur Test, former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad took to Twitter and accused the team management and selectors of "favouritism".

“Rahul’s selection is not based on performance but favouritism. Has been consistently inconsistent and for someone who has been around for 8 years not converted potential into performances,” Prasad wrote on Twitter.

“A Test average of 34 after 46 Tests and more than 8 years in international cricket is ordinary. Can’t think of many who have been given so many chances. When there are so many waiting in the wings & in top form. Shubhman Gill is in sublime form, Sarfaraz (Khan) has been scoring tons in FC (first-class) cricket and many who deserve a chance ahead of Rahul,” he added.

Stiff competition for opening spot

There is a growing competition for the opening spot and another failure can cause a lot of problems for Rahul. Gill is already in the squad and waiting to seize the opportunity. Also, Rahul's good friend Mayank Agarwal slammed 249 in the first innings of Karnataka's semi-final match against Saurashtra to grab the attention of the selectors. India squad for the final two Tests is yet to be announced. The second Test in Delhi starts from February 17.