KL Rahul has scored most runs, but he gets dropped: Aakash Chopra blasts Gautam Gambhir’s shocking decision

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has slammed India's team selection for the third ODI against Sri Lanka at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. Chopra slammed Gautam Gambhir and the team management's decision to drop KL Rahul after just two matches.

KL Rahul was surprisingly dropped for the third ODI for the fellow wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant. Rahul has been a mainstay in India's ODI batting line-up since the Asia Cup last year.

He played a key role in India's title win in Asia Cup 2023. Afterwards, Rahul had a fantastic ODI World Cup 2023 and helped India reach the final, where they lost to Australia. In the final as well, he was India's top run-scorer.

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Aakash Chopra slams Gautam Gambhir's team selection for dropping KL Rahul for 3rd ODI

While speaking in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel, Chopra was clearly disappointed with India's decision to drop KL Rahul. He also argued why India opted for three different batters at No. 4 in all the ODI matches.

"KL Rahul just plays two matches. It's very interesting that we have played three different players in all the three matches in this series - Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, and Rishabh Pant. No. 4 was our revolving door. We were making changes again and again. Why were we doing it? If KL Rahul is playing, then why were we pushing him down to No. 7. Why were we not fighting from the front?

Is KL Rahul in India's plans or not, asks Aakash Chopra

The former India opener mentioned that India doesn't seem to have a plan currently and they lack a proper direction. He further added that Rahul has scored the most number of runs in the middle order globally and yet he was dropped.

"KL Rahul played in the first two games and then he was dropped. It's very interesting. You want to know which direction are you exactly going. You want to know what's your plan. Is KL Rahul in your plans or not?" Chopra argued.

"If you see his numbers from 2023 onwards among the players who have batted at No. 4, 5, and 6 in world cricket, nobody has scored more runs than him. But he gets dropped after just two matches," he added.

KL Rahul's last ODI match before the series vs Sri Lanka

KL Rahul last played an ODI in 2023 against South Africa which was after the ODI World Cup. Since then, he hasn't played much international cricket. He was initially selected in India's squad for the home Test series against England earlier this year.

But an injury forced him to leave the series midway. Since he is not a part of India's T20I plans currently, he did not play in the upcoming T20 World Cup. The first ODI against Sri Lanka was his first international match since the home Test series against England.

But KL Rahul had a disappointing series against Sri Lanka. He scored 31 off 43 balls in the first match and got out for a duck in the second ODI. In both the innings, he was out trying to play expansive shots.