Watch: KL Rahul confirmed Test retirement? Batter's 'pitch touch' gesture in Bengaluru breaks internet

The opening Test of the ongoing three-match Test series between India and New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru was the end of the Test career of KL Rahul, speculate the fans. The Indian cricket team suffered a rare defeat of eight wickets against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

KL Rahul was the biggest disappointment during India’s embarrassing loss to New Zealand, as he failed to deliver in both innings at his home ground in Bengaluru. The right-handed batter was dismissed for a 6-ball duck in the first innings and then could face only 16 balls for 12 runs in the second innings in the first Test against the Kiwis.

KL Rahul’s Test career ends in Bengaluru as India crumbles to New Zealand?

Rahul’s dismissal by William O'Rourke triggered India’s batting collapse, as they bowled out for 462 in their second innings with a lead of 106 runs on Day 4 after being crashed to 46-all out against the New Zealand side, their lowest score on home soil in the longest format of the game.

The Indian cricket team needed Rahul to build a big partnership and get some runs in the first Test, but the local boy disappointed one and all once again despite being under pressure to deliver with the bat. Reportedly, Rahul was already given the ultimatum to score or face the consequences.

Meanwhile, after India’s eight-wicket loss to New Zealand in the first Test, a clip is going viral on social media, where KL Rahul can be seen touching the Bengaluru pitch, taking blessings and this gesture reveals every behind-the-scenes drama.

With his gesture, Rahul confirmed that the first Test against New Zealand was his last outing in whites, felt fans. It will be interesting to see if Rahul gets the chance in the remaining two Tests against New Zealand.

Here's KL Rahul's gesture that went viral -

Kl Rahul last test match confirmed🥳pic.twitter.com/06q2SVpD3j

— Abhishek (@be_mewadi) October 20, 2024

Well, Rahul is yet to make any significant impact in his last 5 innings. He could score only fifty against Bangladesh in India’s last Test series. Rahul had only smashed a fifty against England earlier this year, and before this knock, he made a hundred in South Africa.

KL Rahul's indifferent form set to lead to his omission from the Indian Test team

Apart from these knocks, Rahul’s bat was silent, and now his indifferent form put him under pressure, and the team management might have made up their mind to give him some time to regain his form, as Sarfaraz Khan is already piling up runs with Shubman Gill already in great form.

With Gill set to return for the second Test against New Zealand, starting on October 24 in Pune, Rahul is likely to be dropped from the team and released for the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 duty to favor the in-form batter Sarfaraz, as India will be aiming to bounce back and level the series at the MCA Stadium.