Cricket

'Not based on performance but favoritism' - Former India pacer's scathing attack on Indian management over KL Rahul's selection

Former Indian pacer and former bowling coach, has come with brutal criticism of the I Indian management for picking KL Rahul despite his...

author-image
Daniel S
New Update
KL Rahul

When everyone is celebrating the massive win of the Indian team against Australia in the first of the three-match Test series against Australia; former Indian pacer and former bowling coach, has come with brutal criticism of the Indian management including skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid. The former pacer has criticized the management for giving more than enough chances even after the poor performances.

Notably, KL Rahul has scored only 77 runs in the last five Test innings with a horrible average of 15.4 including a highest individual score of only 23 runs. KL Rahul’s inclusion in the Nagpur Test playing XI at the cost of in-form young batter Shubman Gill has raised a lot of eyebrows in the Indian cricketing corridors.

In the same line of events, former ace speedster Venkatesh Prasad has come up with a 5-tweet-long thread to lash out at the poor performance of KL Rahul and at the management as well; which is continuously backing the out-of-form Karnataka batter.

"I have a lot of regard for KL Rahul’s talent and ability, but sadly his performances have been well below par. 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,” wrote Prasad in the first of his 5 tweets.

“Especially, when there are so many waiting in the wings & in top form. Shubhman Gill is in sublime form, Sarfaraz has been scoring tons in FC cricket, and many deserve a chance ahead of Rahul. Some are just lucky to be given chances endlessly till they succeed while some aren’t allowed to,” he added later.

11, 2023

 

And to make matters worse, Rahul is the designated vice-captain - Venkatesh Prasad on KL Rahul

Later on, the 53-year-old also went on to question the psyche of appointing KL Rahul despite a poor run of form with the bat; subsequently, he also backed the veteran all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin to be the deputy of Rohit Sharma owing to the former’s brilliant cricketing brain.

“And to make matters worse, Rahul is the designated vice-captain. Ashwin has a great cricketing brain and should be the vice-captain in the Test format. If not he should be Pujara or Jadeja. Mayank Agarwal had a far better impact than Rahul in Tests and so did Vihari,” wrote Venkatesh.

Being more brutal in criticizing management for doing favoritism, Prasad went on to question why a lot of cricketers aren’t vocal about this thing within the current Indian camp.

Rahul’s selection is not based on performance but on favoritism. Has been Consistently inconsistent and for someone who has been around for 8 years not converted potential into performances. One of the reasons why many ex-cricketers aren’t vocal despite seeing such favoritism.

“Are the chances of losing out on potential Indian T20 League gigs? They wouldn’t want to rub the captain of a franchisee the wrong way, as in today’s age most people like yes men and blind approvers. Often well-wishers are your best critics but times have changed & people don’t want to be told truth,” Concluded the veteran of 33 Tests and 161 ODIs.

India vs Australia 2023 rohit sharma KL rahul rahul dravid