"KL Rahul should have batted ahead of Axar Patel" - Ex-India head coach slams Rohit Sharma's strategy

Former Team India head coach Anil Kumble said that wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul is always under undue pressure following the semi-final against Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy. Kumble stated that Rahul should have been sent ahead of Axar Patel in the batting order in Dubai on Tuesday, March 4.

KL Rahul came to the crease at No. 6 after Axar Patel’s dismissal, with India still needing 87 off 90 balls. Rahul added a crucial partnership with Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya to help the team secure the win with 11 balls to spare. He scored an unbeaten 42 runs off 34 balls, including two fours and as many sixes.

KL Rahul Should Have Come Ahead of Axar Patel - Anil Kumble

Speaking on ESPNcricinfo Match Day, Anil Kumble praised KL Rahul for his match-winning knock in the semifinal. He stated that Rahul should have batted ahead of Axar Patel, adding that the No. 5 position suits him better. Kumble stated that this innings will boost his confidence.

"He [Rahul] should have come ahead of Axar Patel," Kumble said on ESPNcricinfo Match Day.

"I know Axar did a good job of getting that partnership with Virat Kohli but someone like KL Rahul coming in at that stage and this is what he can do - if he gets to 30, he will ensure that you cross the line."

"He does that and he does that consistently. Yes, he missed out on one opportunity in the last game against New Zealand, but otherwise KL is a class act. This will certainly give him a lot of confidence," he added.

There Is a Lot of Pressure on Him - Anil Kumble

The former cricketer said that Rahul was under pressure for his wicketkeeping in the previous game but proved his capabilities with a strong performance in the semifinal.

"There is a lot of pressure on him. If he does well, it's expected. If he fails even in one innings, suddenly the whole world comes after him. He was under pressure, even with his keeping in the last game, but today he showed what he is capable of," Kumble stated.

Rahul has been the wicketkeeper in all four matches of the ongoing Champions Trophy. He has scored 106 runs in three innings in the tournament. Behind the stumps, he has taken five catches and completed one stumping. Rahul played crucial innings against Bangladesh and Australia.

I Have Rarely Seen KL Rahul Play an Innings Like Virat Kohli - Sanjay Manjrekar

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar said that Rahul performs better with less time at the crease. Manjrekar added that Rahul rarely plays long, steady innings by rotating the strike in a match-winning effort, similar to Virat Kohli.

"Sometimes we wonder if little time is good for KL Rahul, because then he is only thinking of attacking. I have rarely seen KL Rahul play an innings where he is playing steadily, ones and twos, grafting and getting a hundred and winning a game, like Virat Kohli does," Manjrekar said.

KL Rahul and Virat Kohli added a crucial 47-run partnership for the fifth wicket during the chase of 265 against Australia after Nathan Ellis dismissed Axar Patel for 27. He shared a 34-run partnership off 31 balls with Hardik Pandya. Rahul sealed India’s victory in style by launching Glenn Maxwell for a six.

The wicketkeeper-batter has been a consistent performer in ODIs, amassing 3,009 runs in 84 matches at an average of 48.53 and a strike rate of 88.03, including seven centuries and 18 half-centuries.

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