Anil Kumble, the former leg spinner of India, has said that KL Rahul should have been sent higher in the batting order than Axar Patel, considering the kind of innings he was playing in the semifinals of the 2017 Champions Trophy against Australia on Tuesday. Rahul came in at a very critical time for India, batting at 6. He scored a critical 42 runs off 34 balls during India’s chase of a target of 265, helping his team home.
Kumble praised Rahul for his fantastic innings and said he showed why he is suited better at number 5.
“During that innings, we were watching and saying that he should have batted ahead of Axar Patel. Axar did well in building the partnership with Virat Kohli, but at that point in time, KL Rahul was the one who can approach such situations,” Kumble said in a discussion on ESPNCricinfo.
“There are a lot of expectations from him. If he does well, that’s expected. If he fails for one inning, the whole world comes after him. He was under pressure, the last match he was under pressure with the gloves on, but today he showed what he’s capable of,” Kumble added.
Rahul (42 not out) and Hardik Pandya (28 not out) played some smart, aggressive cricket to see India home without much ado.
Rahul came into bat after the fall of Axar Patel in the 35th over. He added 47 runs before he got out at 43, partnering with Indian batting great Virat Kohli. Then, after Kohli got out, he set up a 34-run partnership with Pandya for the sixth wicket and hit the winning six.
“Yeah, I definitely do [like batting at the top]. I won’t lie; it’s after opening the batting in Australia in Tests and having to face the attacks there. The red-ball [cricket] is much tougher,” Rahul said during an interview with Star Sports after the match.
“I have opened the batting there; so to come here and bat low seems a little different, but this is how I have played white-ball cricket for the last four-five years,” Rahul added.
