'By playing KL Rahul at No.6...': Hanuma Vihari leaks India's BGT 2024-25 gameplan

India National Cricket Team batsman Hanuma Vihari has opined that the team management is backing star batter KL Rahul at No.6 in Test cricket because they want an experienced campaigner at that position when they travel to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

KL Rahul is one of the most experienced batters in the Indian Test setup and he has done quite well for the side, especially in overseas Tests. He has featured in 51 Test matches and has done a decent job so far. In 81 innings, he has scored 2901 runs at an average of 34.12.

Rahul has not looked at his very best in recent times but he will be a key member of the side in Australia during the five-match Test series. His numbers haven't been impressive down under, as in 5 matches, he has scored just 187 runs at an average of 20.77 while 110 of his total runs had come in one innings.

It will be a great opportunity for Rahul to better his numbers in the Border-Gavaskar series, which will begin in Perth on November 22. The second pink-ball Test will be played in Adelaide from December 6 while the rest of the matches will be held in Brisbane (December 14-18), Melbourne (December 26-30), and Sydney (January 3-7).

Meanwhile, Hanuma Vihari claims that the Indian team management is looking at the bigger picture by playing KL Rahul at No.6 in Tests. In an interaction with India Today, Hanuma Vihari elaborated:

"I wouldn't say it would be his last Test match because they're looking at a bigger picture is what I feel playing KL Rahul at No.6. They have a plan in mind. They want experience at number six when we tour Australia, because in Australia, playing at six, you need to have good whether it's facing a second new ball or a collapse early.

"You need someone with experience to go out there and counter it and KL Rahul has done it in the past in SENA countries, especially, I know his numbers in SENA countries are really good compared to Indian conditions, which is surprising with the quality KL Rahul possess. But that is what they are looking at."

I'm sure in Kanpur, where the wicket is nice when the opportunity comes, he'll make it big - Hanuma Vihari

Hanuma Vihari added that Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma are looking at KL Rahul to play a key role in the middle order and bring the team out of trouble in difficult times.

Vihari also expressed confidence in Rahul's abilities and said that the 32-year-old will play a big knock in the Kanpur Test against Bangladesh and cement his place at No.6

"I feel as a team management and selectors, someone at number six to guide the team if they're in trouble, or play the second new ball and take it forward from there. Obviously, he needs to score runs to back the team's decision as well. He started well, in the second in the last game.

"Unfortunately, he didn't have enough time to make it a big score or substantial score, but I'm sure in Kanpur, where the wicket is nice when the opportunity comes, he'll make it big and cement his place at number six, which is important for Team India when they tour Down Under," Vihari added.