Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar believes KL Rahul's performance in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series was in line with expectations. Sanjay Manjrekar said KL Rahul looked to be India's strongest batsman in the first three Tests but showed inconsistency again in the last half.
Rahul started the BGT series well and at one point was also India's top run-scorer. He scored 77 runs in the second innings of the Perth Test and 84 in the first innings in Brisbane, but had four misses in the final over. Rahul finished the series with 276 runs from 10 innings at an average of 30.66.
Now we know what KL Rahul – Sanjay Manjrekar is
KL Rahul has faced criticism for his lack of consistency, especially for failing to sustain a strong start. During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Sanjay Manjrekar pointed out that Rahul seems to have developed a pattern where he starts well but then fades away as the series progresses.
“I think we now know what KL Rahul is. We were talking about him as India's best batsman at the start of the series. He looked very compact, and then he got 80 in Brisbane as well. We thought this might change his career. We thought this might change his career,” Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo. “In the right direction, then I saw failures again.”
I don't see it as a possibility for England – Sanjay Manjrekar
Manjrekar believes KL Rahul will retain his place for the upcoming Test series in England. The 59-year-old pointed out that India lacks many options for the opening position. He stated that Rahul's previous success in England makes him the preferred choice as an opener unless Rohit Sharma disrupts the group.
“I don't see him being left out of the England game considering India are still looking for an opener. They don't want to go for (Abhimanyu) Iswaran and Rahul, the last time he was there, they played well. So, I see that opening combination continuing, what Rohit Sharma did not come and throw a spanner in the works,” Manjrekar stated.
KL Rahul played 58 Test matches, scoring 3257 runs at an average of 33.57. He has smashed eight centuries and 17 fifties in his red-ball international career.
It was truly the greatest news to reach us – Sanjay Manjrekar
Yashasvi Jaiswal has been one of the few positives for India with the bat in BGT 2024-25. Sanjay Manjrekar praised Jaiswal's performance and called it a big boost. He highlighted how the young player excelled against the powerful Australian attack.
“Unbelievable. Also, overcoming the problem of Mitchell Starc with that swing ball. It was really the greatest news that came. It was even better against that kind of attack on useful pitches, to get two scores of 80 and 160 was fantastic,” the former cricketer said. In Mumbai for ESPNcricinfo: “Big gains for India.”
Yashasvi Jaiswal has quickly established himself as a promising talent in the Indian line-up. Jaiswal scored 391 runs in just five matches at an average of 43.44. The left-handed player scored 161 points in Perth and added 82 and 84 in Melbourne.
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