Sanjay Manjrekar Wants KL Rahul To Bat At Number Five In White-Ball Cricket And Explains Why

Former Indian batsman Sanjay Manjrekar has opined on KL Rahul’s batting position in India’s white-ball team. KL Rahul has had a burgeoning last few months where he not only has been amongst the runs in white-ball cricket but also cemented his spot as a wicketkeeper. Sanjay Manjrekar feels that KL Rahul must stick to batting in the middle-order only.

After his exploits in the tour of New Zealand, KL Rahul went on to dominate the 13th edition of IPL 2020. The right-handed batsman went on to hammer 670 runs 14 games at 55.83 along with five half-centuries and a hundred. Based on his IPL performances, the selectors also recalled him to the Test squad and appointed him as the vice-captain of the limited-overs team.

Sanjay Manjrekar underlined that India’s issues in white-ball cricket are mostly associated with four-six slots and it needs addressing. Hence, KL Rahul needs to bat at number five, labelling him as a reliable player. Manjrekar highlighted that since Mayank Agarwal has a Test-match temperament, India could thrust him in the top order.

“India’s problem in white-ball cricket for a long time now has been the number four-six slots. In the World Cup, that hurt India a lot and I feel this area needs to be addressed. That is why I feel, Rahul needs to bat at number five because he has done so well in that position and India needs a dependable middle order. Mayank Agarwal has a Test match sort of temperament and his recent form can be used by India at the top of the order,” Manjrekar said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

Rohit is almost irreplaceable, but India has options: Sanjay Manjrekar

The Mumbai batsman added that India’s depth in limited-overs cricket is outstanding and while he named Rohit Sharma as irreplaceable, they must look at other options. Manjrekar reminded that KL Rahul’s form could not be ignored having fared well in the ODI series in New Zealand and playing outstandingly both as an opener and in the middle-order.

“See, the thing is that India has a lot of depth when it comes to white-ball cricket. Rohit is almost irreplaceable but India has options. Let’s not forget, in his last four innings, Rahul scored more than 80 runs in three innings while batting in the middle order (number five) in India’s last ODI series in New Zealand. The credit needs to go to Rahul that he first got a hundred as an opener and then he registered scores of more than 80 while batting at number five,” he added.

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