India’s batting will be stronger if KL Rahul keeps wickets in WTC final: Shastri
New Delhi. Former India coach Ravi Shastri has backed KL Rahul to cement his spot as the wicket-keeper batsman for the World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval in June, saying his presence will help the team’s batting. line-up’ will be strong. Rahul has a decent record in England but poor form saw him dropped from the playing XI after the first two Tests against Australia at home.
The 30-year-old Karnataka player, however, made a spectacular comeback against Australia with a match-winning knock of 75 not out in the first ODI on Friday night. Shastri feels that Rahul can play as a wicket-keeper batsman in the WTC final as KS Bharat could not perform well in the absence of Rishabh Pant.
Shastri said, “He (KL) has done really well which will keep the selectors interested in him ahead of the WTC final. He said, “There are two things. For the first ODI series when Rohit Sharma returns and for the second WTC final, in which if Rahul does wicket-keeper then his batting will be strong. ,
Shastri said, “Rahul can bat in the middle order (number five and six). In England, you usually have to do wicketkeeping from a little behind. You don’t have to put a lot of spinners. He (KL) has two more ODIs before the IPL. He can confirm his place in that Indian team by performing well in these. ,
Rahul has scored 614 runs in nine Tests in England with two centuries and one half-century. India has qualified for the WTC final to be held in June in which the team will face Australia. This will be India’s second WTC final. India was defeated by New Zealand in the 2021 final.
