Former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris has shown concern regarding KL Rahul’s place in the Indian team. Rahul had last played professional cricket in the IPL 2022 when he led Lucknow Super Giant to playoff stages. The right-hander was in prolific form as he had scored 616 runs in 15 matches and had finished as the second-highest run-getter of the tournament.
Subsequently, Rahul was named as captain of the T20I team for the five-match series against South Africa. However, he was ruled out due to a groin injury and Rishabh Pant lead in his absence.
Rahul then underwent Sports Hernia surgery in Germany and had to miss the tour of England. The flamboyant batter was expected to return the Indian squad for the tour of West Indies but he was tested positive for Covid-19. Rahul was then not even named in the squad for the Zimbabwe ODIs.
The Karnataka batter is now expected to return to action in the Asia Cup and he could open the innings with skipper Rohit Sharma.
However, Styris feels Rahul has missed a lot of cricket and it will be difficult for him to hit the ground running.
“It’s a different mindset for players because they don’t want to be out and they don’t want to be giving other players opportunities. I know India has a very good culture within its group, so it doesn’t mind allowing other players opportunities all the time. I know as a player myself, you never wanted to give somebody else a chance to take your spot,” said Styris on ‘Sports Over The Top’ show on Sports18.
“So with the fact that he’s out injured and he’s away from the team at the moment, it just means that other players are able to do what Suryakumar is doing, what Rishabh Pant is doing, getting in there, taking the chance scoring runs and really posing the selectors some questions saying, do we actually need KL Rahul?” the former New Zealand cricketer said.
“Is he going to be in good form when he comes back? He has missed a lot of cricket, a lot of question marks now present themselves just because he’s been able to give other players that opportunity,” Styris added.
Rahul will need to take his chances and deliver the goods for the team in the Asia Cup. Players like Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan can open the innings for India and it will be crucial for Rahul to prove his mettle.
India will begin their Asia Cup campaign against Pakistan on August 28.
