KL Rahul Returned To Test Squad On Merit: Aakash Chopra

KL Rahul has been sensational form in the IPL. He has notched up over 500 runs in the IPL 2020 thus far from nine matches and continues to go strong. Though results have not worked in favour for Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), his individual form has earned him plenty of praises, and former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody is also mighty impressed with him.

Rahul has been named as the vice-captain of the limited-overs squad which is set to tour Australia following Rohit Sharma’s injury concerns. The Karnataka batsman had made his international debut in Australia during the 2014-15 tour. He had scored one century during that series but still has a lot to prove.

KL Rahul with his quality will get more opportunities: Aakash Chopra

Former India cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra however favoured KL Rahul’s selection in the Test squad. He believes that Karnataka batsman made it to the squad through his merit. He also added that players of his quality and skills will get a lot more opportunities than others in the contention.

“Rahul is the kind of player who demands a bit more investment. His technical game is intact even when he is scoring at a rate of knots in the shortest format. His game has no obvious flaws that might make him susceptible to the trials of Test match cricket,” Aakash Chopra wrote in his column for espncricinfo.

“Whether he will make it big in Test cricket or not, we will find out in good time, but there is merit in getting him back in whites. Players with his quality of skills and talent will get more opportunities than the rest, and while it might seem unfair at the time, like it felt to me in 2007, it might be the right decision for Indian cricket,” he further wrote.

Rahul has been picked up as the wicket-keeper batsman in the ODIs while Sanju Samson will lead the shortest format. The KXIP is also leading the race for orange cap in IPL 2020 with 641 runs under his belt.