Former Indian wicket-keeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik has opined that the top order cannot be blamed for lack of game time for KL Rahul in the ongoing ODI series against the West Indies. In the first two games, Rahul didn’t get a chance to bat as India won both matches by eight wickets.
Barring Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad, none of the other Indian batters have faced any deliveries in the middle.
Rahul had managed only 13 runs in two innings in the last ODI series against England while playing away. In the last seven ODI innings, Rahul has faced only 37 deliveries.
“They would ideally love to have some game time, but our batting is so good, and on pitches that are so good, they are not going to give it away easily. They are making the most of it, as they should. It is not their fault that the pitch is good or the bowling standard is not up to what could trouble them. KL Rahul would know that, he has done it before at the top of the order. So hopefully, he gets a chance to bat in the next game,” Dinesh Karthik said on Cricbuzz.
On the other hand, Indian skipper Shubman Gill said he would like to give opportunities to players who haven’t received their chances thus far.
“I definitely want to give the players who haven’t had a chance, give them a chance, and hopefully we’ll see what combination suits us and they’ll get some chance,” India captain Shubman Gill said during the post-match presentation in Guwahati.
While Shubman Gill has scored 333 runs in the series, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have aggregated 168 and 133 runs in two games respectively. Thus, the trio have done the bulk of the scoring for the team.
The third ODI between India and the West Indies will be played at New Chandigarh on Saturday.
