'You saw failures again': KL Rahul totally exposed by Sanjay Manjrekar after BGT

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes KL Rahul's performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 series was in line with expectations. Sanjay Manjrekar said that KL Rahul appeared to be India’s most solid batter in the first three Tests but showed inconsistency again in the latter half.

Rahul started the BGT series well, at one point also being India's leading run-scorer. He scored 77 runs in the second innings of the Perth Test and 84 in the first innings in Brisbane, but he had four failures toward the end. Rahul finished the series with 276 runs from 10 innings at an average of 30.66.

Now We Know What KL Rahul Is About - Sanjay Manjrekar

KL Rahul has faced criticism for his lack of consistency, especially for failing to maintain a strong start. During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Sanjay Manjrekar pointed out that Rahul seems to have developed a pattern where he begins well but then fades as the series progresses.

"I think now we know what KL Rahul is about. We were talking about him being India's best batter at the start of the series. He looked so compact, then got that 80 in Brisbane as well. We thought this might just change his career in the right direction. Then you saw the failures again," Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo.

I Don't See Him Being Left Out for England – Sanjay Manjrekar

Manjrekar believes KL Rahul will retain his spot for the upcoming Test series in England. The 59-year-old pointed out that India lacks many options for the opening position. He stated that Rahul's past success in England makes him the preferred choice as opener unless Rohit Sharma disrupts the combination.

"I don't see him being left out for England considering that India still are looking for an opener. They don't want to go to [Abhimanyu] Easwaran and KL Rahul, the last time he was there, played well. So, I see that opening combination continuing, unless Rohit Sharma comes in and throws spanner in the works," Manjrekar stated.

KL Rahul has played 58 Test matches, scoring 3,257 runs at an average of 33.57. He has smashed eight centuries and 17 fifties in his international red-ball career.

He Was Really the Greatest News to Come Through – Sanjay Manjrekar

Yashasvi Jaiswal was one of the few positives for India with the bat in the BGT 2024-25. Sanjay Manjrekar praised Jaiswal's performance, calling it a major boost. He highlighted how the young opener excelled against a tough Australian attack.

"Incredible. Also, overcoming the Mitchell Starc problem with that swinging ball. He was really the greatest news to come through. Top of the order against that kind of an attack on helpful pitches, to have two scores of 80 and a 160 was tremendous. Big gain for India," the former Mumbai cricketer told ESPNcricinfo.

Yashasvi Jaiswal has quickly established himself as a promising talent in the Indian lineup. Jaiswal scored 391 runs in just five matches at an average of 43.44. The left-handed batter scored a remarkable 161 in Perth and added 82 and 84 in Melbourne.

Also read: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Yashasvi Jaiswal's selection confirmed, Shubman Gill's career under threat