Gautam Gambhir Names MS Dhoni's Appropriate Replacement

It is fair to say that KL Rahul has had a 360-degree turn to his fortunes as an International cricketer in the past 12 months. His extended lean-patch in Test cricket meant he was dropped from the team for the Boxing Day Test during India’’s historic Test series win in Australia. And, to make matters worse, his public image was tarnished to the core after his infamous chat-show appearance alongside all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

Both Rahul and Pandya were suspended with immediate effect, and even though Rahul came to the side and did relatively well in the 50-over World Cup, his form wasn’t really of the same effect that we had seen in the past. After another dismal Test returns, Rahul was axed from the side post the tour of the West Indies. Rahul then headed back to domestic cricket and this is where his redemption started.

The Indian batsman not only scored a truckload of runs for Karnataka in the Vijay-Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy but also donned the wicket keeping gloves to great effect. With Rishabh Pant not living up to the expectations as far as his batting as well as his keeping is concerned, the Indian team-management took the punt and handed the gloves to Rahul during the ODI series against Australia.

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Gautam Gambhir impressed with KL Rahul’s recent exploits

Rahul has since then done the dual job with disdain. His wicket-keeping has improved with every game while his batting has been on a different level. And, former Indian opener and the hero of 2007 and 2011 World Cup wins, Gautam Gambhir has reckoned that KL Rahul is the apt replacement and an able successor to MS Dhoni.

“The apt replacement for Dhoni could be KL Rahul. Ever since he has donned the ’keeper’s gloves in white-ball cricket, I’ve seen his performance, both batting and ’keeping. Obviously his keeping is not as good as Dhoni’s, but if you are looking at T20 cricket, Rahul’s a utility player, can keep and bat at No. 3 or 4,” Gautam Gambhir said on Star Sports show ‘Cricket Connected’

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