Veteran former Indian bowler Venkatesh Prasad lashed out angrily at Team India’s Test vice-skipper KL Rahul. Rahul has been struggling recently in Test cricket, and Prasad took it out on him. Prasad has claimed that Indian selectors are biased against Rahul, despite batting coach Vikram Rathour’s assurances to the contrary. Prasad said that there are more qualified individuals waiting in the wings than Rahul, who has been given several opportunities to succeed despite the fact that others have not.
He said: 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.
India took a commanding 1-0 lead over Australia in the current Border-Gavaskar Test series on Saturday in Nagpur, but former India seam bowler Venkatesh Prasad thinks the continuous selection of vice-captain and opening batsman K.L. Rahul is the biggest talking point from the three days of play.
In India’s lone batting innings of the Nagpur Test match, Rahul was caught and bowled by Australia’s off-spin rookie Todd Murphy for a score of 20. It was Rahul’s wicket that started Murphy’s incredible run of 7-124 from the bowling alley.
According to Prasad, Rahul is not the best choice to serve as the Test team’s designated vice-captain. He continued by saying that Ashwin should be Rohit Sharma’s deputy as captain because of his “excellent cricketing intellect.”
Prasad said, without providing proof, that Rahul’s repeated chances were the result of “favouritism,” with others reluctant to call it out for fear of losing lucrative IPL commentary and punditry contracts.
The odds are strong that Rahul will keep his spot in the starting XI, but if he doesn’t perform well in Delhi, the vice-captain might see his playing time decrease under increasing pressure.
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. Especially..cont
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) February 11, 2023
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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 who deserve a chance ahead of Rahul. Some are just lucky to be given chances endlessly till they succeed while some aren’t allowed to.
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) February 11, 2023
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And to make matters worse, Rahul is the designated vice-captain. Ashwin has a great cricketing brain, should be the vice captain in the Test format. If not him should be Pujara or Jadeja .Mayank Agarwal had a far better impact than Rahul in Tests and so did Vihari.
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) February 11, 2023
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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.
One of the reasons why many ex-cricketers aren’t vocal despite seeing such favouritism..— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) February 11, 2023
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is the chances of losing out on potential IPL gigs. They wouldn’t want to rub the captain of a franchisee 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
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) February 11, 2023
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