Follow UsFormer India fast bowler Dodda Ganesh expressed his frustration over “wasting” KL Rahul at No.6 in ODIs, following India’s first match against Australia in Perth on October 19 (Sunday). The 52-year-old, who, like Rahul, hails from Karnataka, shared his thoughts in a tweet on ‘X’ after Axar Patel once again walked out to bat ahead of Rahul.
To break the string of right-handers in the batting line-up, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir and former captain Rohit Sharma had promoted Axar to No.5 during the Champions Trophy 2025, despite Rahul averaging more than 56 in that position.
The strategy paid off in spin-friendly conditions in Dubai, where Axar played some game-changing cameos while Rahul finished games successfully. Axar’s presence at No.5 made sense against spin, given his ability to break the chain of right-handers and his proficiency against spinners.
However, when India toured Australia, many expected Rahul to return to his familiar No.5 slot, particularly if early wickets fell. That scenario unfolded in the first ODI in Perth, where India lost Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and new captain Shubman Gill inside nine overs for just 25 runs.
Despite the perfect situation for Rahul to showcase his experience in the middle overs, the team management stuck with the previous strategy and sent Axar to bat at No.5 - a decision that clearly did not sit well with Ganesh.
“For heavens sake please let KL Rahul bat at no 5. Don’t waste him at 6 (sic). Ok then. India will not change its strategy. Its criminal to push a batsman of KL Rahul’s quality to no 6,” Ganesh wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Rahul’s numbers at No.5 in ODIs are exceptional: 1299 runs in 31 innings at an average of 56.47 and a strike rate of 96.36, including two centuries and nine fifties. But his performance at No.6 is also solid, with 194 runs in eight innings at 48.50 and a strike rate of 91.50.
With the next ODI World Cup scheduled in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in 2027 - where spin will play a lesser role - it may be prudent for India to restore Rahul to No.5. That position allows him to control the middle overs and anchor innings, particularly if early wickets tumble.