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'Absolutely Mindless' - Karnataka Legend SLAMS India for Demoting KL Rahul
Follow UsSince Gambhir has taken over, Rahul has not batted at No.5 even once, with him playing thrice at No.6 and once at No.7
Former India cricketer and Karnataka legend Dodda Ganesh took to social media to slam the Gautam Gambhir-led management for their treatment of KL Rahul, expressing his displeasure over India constantly pushing Rahul away from his preferred No.5 slot.
Rahul averages 57.22 batting at No.5 in ODI cricket and found enormous success batting in that particular slot for the side in the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, since Gambhir has taken over, Rahul has not batted at No.5 even once, with him playing thrice at No.6 and once at No.7.
Gambhir’s liking for a left-hander in the middle-order has seen Axar Patel bat over Rahul in each of the first two ODIs of the ongoing series against England. And the demotion has affected Rahul’s returns, with the right-hander posting scores of 10 & 2.
Dodda Ganesh lambasted the management for their tactics, terming the move ‘absolutely mindless’.
“Axar Patel again ahead of KL Rahul? I’m speechless. Does it make any sense to push a genuine batter like Rahul to no 6?,” Ganesh wrote on X.
“When you’re 5/3, do you’ve the courage to send Axar on a tricky pitch? If not, what sense does this experiment make? Absolutely mindless this.”
Under Gambhir, Rahul is averaging 10.75 from 4 ODIs. In comparison, he averaged 66.25 across 24 ODI innings in 2023.