KL Rahul Is Struggling For Form - Michael Vaughan Says Ishan Kishan Should Open In The Series-Decider

Former England captain, Michael Vaughan opines that KL Rahul should be dropped from India’s eleven for the fifth and series-deciding T20I on Saturday in Ahmedabad.

KL Rahul’s form in the first 4 matches – scores of  1, 0, 0, and 14(off 17 balls) – in this series has been a major concern for Virat Kohli and management. Moreover, the brilliant fifties from Ishan Kishan – 56 off 32 – in the second T20I, on his debut, and then from Suryakumar Yadav – 57 off 31 – in the fourth game has put Rahul’s place under threat.

Michael Vaughan says that Rahul should be unquestionably dropped for Kishan to come back in the side – the left-hander was ruled out of the 4th match due to an injury; Yadav’s match-winning fifty has sealed his position in the eleven, while Shreyas Iyer has shown brilliant adaptability with his knocks of 67 in the first T20I and a quickfire 37 from 18 deliveries on Thursday.

“KL Rahul doesn’t play, simple. You can’t look at this other than a one-off game and who is the best player at the minute, who is playing with the most clarity and confidence. Ishan Kishan will open the batting,” Michael Vaughan said while speaking to Cricbuzz.

More Mumbai Indians, there you go: Michael Vaughan

The 46-year-old once again jokingly mentioned the impact of the Mumbai Indians franchise players in Team India – in the fourth T20I as many as 4 players from the 5-time IPL champions played in India’s eleven, with Ishan Kishan on the bench. Not to forget Jasprit Bumrah, another MI superstar, has not participated in the series.

But, Michael Vaughan did also mention that while Kishan’s inclusion would come at cost of dropping Rahul, however, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the right-hander couldn’t come back – but is just, at the moment, struggling for runs and confidence.

“For me, KL Rahul is not being thrown out of the team forever but at this stage, he is not playing to the confidence, he is struggling for form, so Ishan Kishan will come in to open the batting with Rohit. More Mumbai Indians, there you go,” Michael Vaughan added.

Just a thought … @surya_14kumar Mumbai Indian … @hardikpandya7 Mumbai Indian … @ImRo45 captaincy Mumbai Indian !!!! @mipaltan #JustSaying #INDvENG

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 18, 2021

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