‘I will still play KL Rahul over Sarfaraz Khan,’ says former India wicket-keeper

However, with Gill slated to instrumentality for the 2nd Test successful Pune aft India’s eight-wicket defeat, Patel feels India volition proceed to backmost Rahul successful the lower-middle order. Rahul has had a mediocre agelong successful Tests astatine home, having past scored a 100 backmost successful 2016. Rahul’s Test mean has dipped beneath 34 with his location aggregate showing lone 264 runs successful his past matches astatine a 29.33 average.

“The question volition beryllium whether Sarfaraz Khan volition get to play oregon they volition spell with KL Rahul. I volition inactive play KL Rahul, the mode the squad has shown religion successful him. I americium reasoning similar that based connected however the team’s reasoning has been,” Patel said portion speaking connected Colors Cineplex.

Patel highlighted that contempt Gill’s lack astatine 3 owed to a cervix stiffness, India held Rahul backmost astatine No.6, indicating a alteration successful role. Patel besides insisted the concern is akin to that of seamers Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep, with the erstwhile being backed contempt debased returns astatine home.

“If you wanted, you could person made Rahul bat astatine No. 3 successful this Test lucifer but you said that you didn’t privation to alteration his position. Nothing to instrumentality from Sarfaraz’s knock, helium made 150 runs for sure, but it’s the aforesaid concern arsenic Mohammed Siraj oregon Akash Deep. There volition decidedly beryllium unit connected KL Rahul but I would inactive play him,” Patel said.

India volition instrumentality connected the Kiwis successful the 2nd Test successful Pune from Friday and person added all-rounder Washington Sundar to their archetypal squad.