India’s ‘panic mode’ exposed! Sanjay Manjrekar urges end to KL Rahul obsession

Former India National Cricket Team batter Sanjay Manjrekar has shared his views on KL Rahul being tested as an opener ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

Sanjay Manjrekar said that India are in 'panic mode' and urged the team management to end their KL Rahul obsession and show trust in some new faces to get the job done.

Clearly, India is in panic mode - Sanjay Manjrekar

KL Rahul was recently dropped from the Indian Test XI after he failed to score runs in the Test series opener against New Zealand in Bengaluru. He registered scores of 0 & 12 in the first Test and was replaced by Sarfaraz Khan in the next two matches.

Rohit Sharma had earlier made it clear that the team management doesn't want to change KL Rahul's batting position in Test cricket as the middle-order spot suits him.

However, the star batsman was sent early to Australia to participate in the unofficial Test match against Australia A. Notably, KL Rahul was given the opening spot as India is looking for a replacement for Rohit Sharma, who could miss the first BGT Test in Perth due to birth of his second child.

Rahul, meanwhile, once again failed to impress as he registered scores of 4 & 10 and even got bowled between his legs, which was an embarrassing dismissal.

Talking about the sudden change in KL Rahul's batting position, Sanjay Manjrekar said that the Indian team are in panic mode.

"Clearly, India is in panic mode. They are a bit shaken by what happened against New Zealand at home. And that's when plans start to go awry. And that is where I believe that one has to actually look at it in a different way, where you think there's nothing to lose here," he said on ESPNcricinfo.

I don't know, there's some fascination that the team management and selectors have for him - Sanjay Manjrekar

Sanjay Manjrekar further launched an attack on the Indian team management and selection committee, demanding the chance for deserving players and not KL Rahul. He said that the team management lacks confidence in Abhimanyu Easwaran, but they should trust the domestic cricket veteran. He elaborated:

"So that is the time when you go back and do the right thing. And play players who deserve to get a chance. KL Rahul. You know, I don't know, there's some fascination that the team management, selectors have for him that they just want him part of the playing 11, whether it's at the top or down the order.

"Maybe Abhimanyu Easwaran hasn't convinced them as much. But it's not for us to play God and decide that maybe Abhimanyu Easwaran won't get run in the Test match. We've had many examples in the past where players have surprised you by the performances. Sometimes you yourself are surprised by your own sort of performance as to the height that you reach. So keep it simple and make the right choice."

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I would actually say KL Rahul should consider himself very lucky - Sanjay Manjrekar

When asked to share his views on how Rahul would be feeling with the change in his role amid poor form, Sanjay Manjrekar stated that the batter should consider himself lucky because he has been getting consistent opportunities.

Manjrekar highlighted that Rahul averages below 35 after playing 50 Test matches, but still, he has received a lot of support from the selection committee. He elaborated:

"I would actually say KL Rahul should consider himself very lucky to be getting opportunities. Such comebacks and opportunities, very few players over the years in the history of Indian cricket have been given this kind of a deal.

"So whether it's up the order, down the order, doesn't matter as long as he's getting a chance to play in the Playing XI, despite the kind of record that he has. Now the average has dropped to 33 after 50 Test matches. I guess somewhere they hope that KL Rahul might find that form that he's capable of.

"He's got 100 in Australia. So that is why he keeps coming back into plans. But I think it's time to now maybe, not with conviction, that you think Abhimanyu Easwaran is the guy to open along with Jaiswal. Maybe that doesn't fill you with too much confidence, but that would be the right thing to do."