Kris Srikkanth Criticizes Gambhir's Decision to Bat KL Rahul at No. 6, Suggests Fairer Options

Former India captain and ex-chairman of selectors, K. Srikkanth, has openly criticized the team's decision to slot KL Rahul at No. 6 in the ongoing ODIs against England. Srikkanth, known for his outspoken views, expressed concerns about the fairness of the move, especially given Rahul's impressive record at No. 5 in recent years.

KL RAHUL'S BATTING POSITION: A CAUSE FOR CONCERN

In both of the ODIs so far, India has preferred a left-right batting combination, which led to Rahul being demoted to No. 6 while Axar Patel was promoted to No. 5. While Axar's promotion has yielded decent scores of 52 and 41, Rahul has struggled at the lower position, registering scores of 2 and 10.

Srikkanth, on his YouTube channel, pointed out that Rahul has been one of India's most consistent performers at No. 5, a position where he has shown brilliant form over the past couple of years. He questioned the logic behind his demotion and described the treatment of Rahul as "unfair," especially considering his success at No. 5. "If Rahul bats at No. 6 or 7, he ends up scoring 6 or 7. It’s unfair," Srikkanth said.

AXAR PATEL’S PROMOTION: A TACTICAL CHOICE WITH CONSEQUENCES

While Axar has been effective with the bat, Srikkanth warned that the tactic of constantly shifting players could backfire on India. "Yes, Axar Patel is scoring, but the constant changes aren’t right," he emphasized. Srikkanth expressed concern that the team management’s focus on creating a left-right combination could lead to problems in critical matches.

"Hey, Gambhir, what you are doing is not right. The left-right combination should not dictate who plays at No. 5," he said. "If India continues to make such changes, it could lead to situations where everything falls apart when it matters most."

RISHABH PANT’S POTENTIAL ROLE AND RAHUL’S CONFIDENCE

Srikkanth further suggested that if a left-handed batsman was needed in the middle order, Rishabh Pant should be given the opportunity to bat at No. 6 instead of pushing Rahul down the order. "I have no issue with Axar Patel—he’s performing well. But if Rahul is being pushed lower, then why not include Rishabh Pant at No. 6? Don’t undermine Rahul’s confidence," he added.

LOOKING AHEAD: RAHUL'S FUTURE IN THE SQUAD

Given Rahul's recent low scores and the growing uncertainty surrounding his position, Srikkanth expressed concerns about Rahul's chances of making the playing XI in future tournaments, including the upcoming Champions Trophy. "The way things are going, Rahul could end up warming the bench during the Champions Trophy," he said, hinting that Pant might be included in the third ODI and eventually in the Champions Trophy squad.

SRIKKANTH'S FINAL THOUGHTS: CONSISTENCY IS KEY

Srikkanth concluded by stressing the importance of playing players in their best positions, regardless of the left-right combination. "You should always play your best player at No. 5, irrespective of whether they are left-handed or right-handed," he asserted.