Former Indian wicketkeeper Saba Karim thinks that for the forthcoming Test series against England, KL Rahul ought to take Virat Kohli’s place at the vital No. 4 spot in the batting order. The five-match Test series between Team India and England will begin on June 20 in Leeds.
India’s three prior Test visits to England in 2014, 2018, and 2021–2022 all included Virat Kohli. But this month, the 36-year-old declared his retirement from Test cricket, leaving India with a huge void at No. 4.
Saba Karim was certain that KL Rahul should take Kohli’s place, even though new captain Shubman Gill and Karun Nair had been mentioned as possible alternatives.
He stated in an NDTV interview:
“In the absence of Kohli, Rahul’s role is monumental. And I look at him, as a batter who can bat a number four. Many people have suggested different batting positions, but I feel that KL is ideal to replace or take over, the role of Virat Kohli at number four, because that number four, he can play a dual role of negotiating the early setback if that happens in the Indian side, and then he can carry the innings forward.”
Saba Karim
Karim added:
“He does have the right kind of technique. He has done well in England. He has a temperament. And I think with the past season, season and a half, there is a lot of maturity that has come in. So I think that’s the kind of responsibility with Indian team management.”
Saba Karim
KL Rahul has experience at practically every position in the Indian batting order, from opening to No. 6. However, he has batted only once at No.4 for India in Tests in the home series opener against England in Hyderabad last year.
KL Rahul did well, getting a 22 in the second innings after a magnificent 86 in the first.
Looking at KL Rahul’s Test numbers in England
One of India’s most seasoned batsmen under these circumstances is KL Rahul, who will enter the England Test tour. The 33-year-old has participated in nine games throughout their last two England Test visits.
The elegant batsman has scored two hundreds despite having a poor average of 34.11 in 18 innings. In the last match of the 2018 tour, Rahul scored his maiden Test century in England. In the second Test of the 2021–2022 series, he scored his second.
Intriguingly, the seasoned batsman has batted first in eight of his nine Test matches in England; the only one in which he batted at number three was his debut.
