With India’s Test season set to begin, KL Rahul‘s performance in the upcoming Bangladesh series will be crucial in solidifying his place in the squad, especially with a major tour of Australia looming on the horizon. Ahead of the first Test match against Bangladesh, head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Rohit Sharma have their work cut out as they will have to pick the playing XI out of a 16-member squad. As some spots are already sealed in Team India, others are still open to give the selectors a headache.
The 1983 World Cup hero Kris Srikanth also suggests that KL Rahul’s impressive record in overseas conditions could give him an advantage over Sarfaraz Khan. Sarfaraz Khan, having only featured in a single home series against England earlier this year, lacks the extensive international experience that Rahul brings to the table.
KL Rahul’s stellar performance for India over the years
KL Rahul has represented India in 50 Test matches and has been consistently been present in the red-ball format. Management will likely give him enough opportunities as they plan for the most crucial series that’s the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. While Rishabh Pant all prepped up for his return to Test cricket following the critical car accident in December 2022 that caused severe knee and back injuries. He will be making a comeback after 15 months.
KL Rahul’s first-class career has seen him craft several memorable innings on challenging tracks, including the likes of Lord’s and The Oval in London, and Centurion in South Africa. However, despite these impressive performances overseas, his spot in India’s Test side has often come under scrutiny due to periodic inconsistencies in domestic conditions.
KL Rahul’s last century in India came during the 2016 series against England, where he scored a brilliant 199 in Chennai. His form continued into early 2017 when he notched six fifties in seven innings during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, signaling his readiness for bigger challenges as a Test opener. Yet, since then, KL Rahul has appeared in just seven Test innings on home soil, a puzzling statistic for a player of his talent and experience.
As India prepares for the upcoming Test season, starting with a two-match series against Bangladesh on September 19 in Chennai, all eyes will be on KL Rahul. With a highly anticipated tour of Australia on the horizon, KL Rahul’s vast experience and proven ability in overseas conditions could provide him an edge in securing a place in India’s playing XI.
KL Rahul last featured in a Test match for India in early 2024, against England in Hyderabad, where he scored an impressive 86 before a quadriceps injury sidelined him. Despite the highs and lows of his Test career, KL Rahul’s 50 Test caps and his record of excelling in difficult overseas conditions make him a valuable asset for the Indian team management. Seven of his eight Test centuries have been scored overseas, at iconic venues such as Lord’s, The Oval, Sydney, and Centurion, where KL Rahul has built a reputation for delivering under pressure.
Nevertheless, his overall Test numbers paint a more complicated picture. Across 50 matches, Rahul has accumulated 2,863 runs at an average of 34.08—solid, but perhaps not the standout performance the selectors may have hoped for. His form has been inconsistent, with particular struggles in 2018 and 2019 when his average dipped into the 20s. Though he showed signs of resurgence in 2021, averaging 46.10, his performances in 2022 and 2023 did not live up to the same standard.
So far in 2024, Rahul has played just three Test innings, scoring 116 runs at an average of 38.66. His recent return to competitive cricket in the Duleep Trophy, where he scored 37 and 57 for India A against India B, offered promising signs ahead of the Bangladesh series, giving him crucial match practice after his injury layoff.
At 5, there is competition between Sarfaraz Khan and KL Rahul. For the wicketkeeper position, either Dhruv Jurel or Rishabh Pant could be selected. According to Krishnamachari Srikanth, former BCCI chief selector, Rahul needs to be favored over Sarfaraz due to his high profile. Similarly, he maintains Pant should be selected over Jurel as the final wicketkeeper.
Kris Srikanth backs KL Rahul to replace Sarfaraz Khan for 1st Bangladesh Test 2024
Former Indian opener Kris Srikanth has backed veteran batter KL Rahul to retain his place at No.5 ahead of Sarfaraz Khan in the first Test against Bangladesh, starting in Chennai on September 19. After playing the first Test against England earlier this year, Rahul missed the rest of the five-match series due to injury.
It gave Sarfaraz an opportunity to make his debut for India in the final three England Tests and the youngster took it with both hands. The 26-year-old scored 200 runs at an average of 50 with three half-centuries, as India bounced back from losing the opener to win the series 4-1. While Sarfaraz and Rahul are both part of the squad for the first Bangladesh Test, Srikanth on his YouTube channel backed the latter to slot back in at No.5.
“Honestly, I feel bad for Sarfaraz Khan. But, this happens, at times, in Test cricket. You would have been playing well but when a big player returns, you will have to lose your place. Take for instance, Rishabh Pant is returning because of which Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan are losing their places. KL Rahul is coming in,” he said.
Srikanth also feels keeping in mind the upcoming Australia tour would help KL Rahul to get the nod ahead of Sarfaraz.
“At the back of the mind, they are also keeping the Australia series. New Zealand are also coming. KL Rahul has performed well overseas, in Australia he has done well,” added Srikanth.
KL Rahul scored a brilliant 86 in the first innings of the series opener against England – the last time he played a red-ball game for India. India’s top four is set with Rohit Sharma, Yashaswi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli and their No.6 is likely to be Rishabh Pant as the wicket-keeper. This leaves only the No.5 slot open for one of Rahul or Sarfaraz.
KL Rahul outperformed Sarfaraz Khan in the 2024 Duleep Trophy opener
KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan battled each other in the 2024 Duleep Trophy opener when India A took on India B in Bengaluru. Playing for India A, Rahul produced scores of 37 and 57 in a low-scoring encounter with 300 being crossed only once in the four innings.
Meanwhile, Sarfaraz scored only 9 in the first innings but responded with a crucial 36-ball 46 in the second innings to help India A set a formidable target of 275 for India A. Despite Rahul’s valiant half-century in the fourth innings, India A suffered a 76-run defeat.
While he has been released from the India A squad for Round 2 of the Duleep Trophy, Sarfaraz Khan has been retained in the India B roster despite being part of the Indian squad for the first Bangladesh Test.
However, Rahul’s Test record against Bangladesh raises concerns. The Karnataka batter has managed only 69 runs at an average of 11.50 in six innings, with a top score of just 43. This underwhelming record will only add to the pressure as he looks to secure his place in the squad and silence his critics.
A senior BCCI official, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed confidence in Rahul’s return.
“In his last three Tests, KL scored a century in South Africa, one of the best Test innings in recent memory, and 86 in Hyderabad. He wasn’t dropped; he got injured. Now that he’s fit and with a solid performance in the Duleep Trophy, he will get the nod to start.”
With India’s demanding Test season ahead, culminating in a major tour of Australia, selectors will be keenly observing whether KL Rahul can rediscover his form and cement his place at the top of the order. The upcoming series against Bangladesh could prove pivotal, not just for Rahul’s immediate future in the side, but for his long-term role in India’s Test ambitions.