Gautam Gambhir throws weight behind KL Rahul, claims India batter shouldn't be singled out for lack of runs

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New Delhi, Feb 23: Lucknow Super Giants' mentor Gautam Gambhir has backed underfire India batter KL Rahul saying the Karnataka cricketer shouldn't be dropped from the Test side.

There has been a clamour over social media following Rahul's consistently poor performances with the bat in Test cricket but Gambhir, the former India opener, claimed it is unfair to single out Rahul for scathing criticism.

Gautam Gambhir backs KL Rahul

Gambhir has opined that every player goes through lean phases in their respective careers and Rahul needs the support of the team.

"KL Rahul should not be dropped from the Indian side. One should not single out any player. Everyone goes through a lean patch. No one, no cricket pundit or anyone should tell him that he is not doing well and be dropped," Gambhir told PTI during an interaction on the sidelines of an IPL pre-season camp organised by Lucknow Super Giants. Rahul will be leading the Super Giants in the IPL 2023 season, starting March 31.

In his last 10 Test innings, Rahul has averaged a dismal 12.5 with not a single score of above 25. His sequence of scores read 8, 10, 12, 22, 23, 10, 2, 20, 17 and 1, raising questions about his place in the playing XI. There are strong calls to include young India batter Shubman Gill in the playing XI.

Gautam Gambhir lauds Rohit Sharma's captaincy

The two-time IPL champion and former captain of KKR also cited current India captain Rohit Sharma's example of how he was backed to the hilt by the erstwhile team management so that he is successful in Test cricket. Once Rohit started opening, things looked up for him in the traditional format.

"You have to back players who have talent. Look at Rohit Sharma. He also had a lean patch. Look at the way he started his career. He had a late flourish. Compared (earlier times) to how he is performing now. Everyone could see his talent and backed him. Now see the result. He is going great guns. Rahul can do the same," Gambhir seemed confident of his abilities.

India Playing XI for 3rd Test Vs Australia

The southpaw is of the opinion that if the team is winning matches comfortably, there is no point in tinkering with winning combinations and single out one player for harsh treatment.

"India is 2-0 up and not 0-2 down. So let's not axe anyone and appreciate the team's performance. I think the Indian team management is right in backing KL Rahul. He is a great player. He had scored runs in international cricket."

Gambhir wishes India women all the best

On the Indian women's team's semi-final encounter against Australia in ICC T20 World Cup, Gambhir said: "I think India has got the talent to beat Australia. Obviously, Australia is a good team but I am sure the Indian women's team has the potential to beat Australia. If you can play those 240 balls better than Australia, then the team can beat them."

While Indian women lost badly to England in a group league match, Gambhir feels that they have been consistent enough. "I think the Indian team has been very consistent in the way they are playing this tournament. Now the occasions should not matter. You know people will talk about the semi-final. ultimately it is not the occasion, it is the contest of the bat and ball," he added.

On the inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL), he said it was a historic step taken by the BCCI. "We keep talking about gender equality. What better than this to have gender equality and I am sure it is going to promote a lot of young girls to start playing cricket and I think WPL can go a long way."

(With PTI inputs)