'Honestly, I feel bad...': Kris Srikkanth on choosing between KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan for first Test against Bangladesh

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Sep 11, 2024, 06:52 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

Kris Srikkanth has endorsed KL Rahul for the No.5 position in India's batting lineup for the first Test against Bangladesh on September 19 in Chennai. Despite Sarfaraz Khan's commendable performances, Srikkanth favors Rahul owing to his experience and recent form, which is vital ahead of future series against New Zealand and Australia.

KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan

NEW DELHI: Former cricketer Kris Srikkanth has shown support for KL Rahul to retain the No.5 spot in India's batting order for the first Test against Bangladesh. The match begins on September 19 in Chennai. Srikkanth prefers Rahul over Sarfaraz Khan, despite Sarfaraz's strong performances earlier this year.
Rahul missed most of the England Test series due to injury, which allowed Sarfaraz to step in and score 200 runs at an average of 50.

Top Picks For You

'Don't talk too much about Pakistan series': Bangladesh's Litton Das shifts focus to India tour

However, Srikkanth expressed his preference for Rahul on his YouTube channel. He said, "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 also mentioned the upcoming Australia series, highlighting Rahul's experience and success in overseas conditions. "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 scores of 37 and 57 in the Duleep Trophy strengthen his case for selection.
Meanwhile, India's top four are set with Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli, while Rishabh Pant is expected to bat at No.6 as the wicketkeeper. This leaves the No.5 spot to be decided between Rahul and Sarfaraz.
Sarfaraz's recent Duleep Trophy performance, where he scored 9 and 46, poses a tough decision for the selectors ahead of the Bangladesh series. Indian team aims to present their strongest team in this series and future tours against New Zealand and Australia.

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

End of Article