Former Indian opener and now a cricket commentator Aakash Chopra believes KL Rahul has the skills to score a double century in the ODI format.
Rahul has been in sublime form in the recent past and he is going to hold the key for the Indian team in the upcoming series against Australia.
Rahul had finished as the leading run-getter of the recently concluded season of the Indian Premier League 2020. The flamboyant right-hander had scored 670 runs in 14 matches while leading Kings XI Punjab at an impressive average of 55.83. Thus, he will look to continue his good form.
Meanwhile, KL Rahul is also expected to don the wicket-keeping gloves. With Rohit Sharma not available for the ODI series due to hamstring injury, it would be interesting to note who will open the innings with Shikhar Dhawan.
India have batsmen like Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal but Chopra wants KL Rahul to open the innings with the left-handed, Dhawan. However, the former Indian opener also admitted that the team management will not open the innings with Rahul and he will most likely bat in the middle order.
KL Rahul has an impressive record in the white-ball format and he is going to hold the key for the Indian team. The stylish batsman has scored 1239 runs in 32 ODI matches at an impressive average of 47.65. Rahul’s highest score in the ODI format is 112, which he scored against New Zealand.
Aakash Chopra said while talking on his YouTube Channel, “My heart says that KL Rahul should open because the sort of player he is, he scores hundreds and in my opinion, if he plays very well he can even score a double hundred in ODIs. You have got to make him open if you want to do justice to his abilities.”
Chopra feels Rahul will add finishing touches to the team’s total with Hardik Pandya and Mayank Agarwal is likely to open the innings with Shikhar Dhawan. Agarwal has also been in fine touch as he scored 424 runs in 11 IPL matches at an average of 38 and an impressive strike rate of 156.25.
The first ODI will take place at the SCG on November 27.
