The selection for the No. 5 spot in India’s Test batting lineup for the upcoming series against Bangladesh is generating a lot of buzz. Former Indian cricketer Kris Srikkanth has come out in support of KL Rahul, advocating for his retention despite the impressive form of Sarfaraz Khan.
While Sarfaraz has made a strong case for himself with a solid performance in the earlier part of the year, scoring 200 runs at an average of 50, Srikkanth prefers Rahul. He explained his reasoning on his YouTube channel, stating, “Honestly, I feel bad for Sarfaraz Khan. But this happens, at times, in Test cricket. You would have been playing well, but when a big player returns, you will have to lose your place.”
Srikkanth’s preference for Rahul stems from the upcoming tour of Australia, where Rahul has a proven track record of success. “At the back of the mind, they are also keeping the Australia series. New Zealand are also coming. KL Rahul has performed well overseas, in Australia he has done well,” he added.
Rahul’s recent performances in the Duleep Trophy, with scores of 37 and 57, further solidify his claim to the No. 5 position. Meanwhile, India’s top four batting slots are set with Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant is expected to bat at No. 6 as the wicketkeeper. This leaves the No. 5 spot as the only one up for grabs.
However, Sarfaraz’s recent Duleep Trophy performance, where he scored 9 and 46, adds to the complexity of the selection dilemma for the selectors ahead of the Bangladesh series. The Indian team is aiming to field its strongest squad for this series and future tours against New Zealand and Australia, making this selection decision particularly important. The upcoming Test series promises to be an exciting one, with the No. 5 spot battle adding another layer of intrigue.
