Will KL Rahul Make Way For Rohit Sharma In 2nd Test? Wasim Jaffer Responds

Former India National Cricket Team opening batsman Wasim Jaffer feels that based on form KL Rahul is the only one who could be dropped from the playing XI when regular skipper Rohit Sharma returns to the side for the second and last Test match against Bangladesh.

Rohit Sharma was ruled out of the first Test due to a thumb injury he sustained while fielding in the slips in the second ODI of the three-match series against Bangladesh. Reportedly, Rohit will be part of India’s playing XI in the second Test and questions about the player he would replace in the playing XI have already triggered a debate among fans.

KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma — (Image Credit: Twitter)

In the absence of Rohit, Rahul, the designated vice-captain, led India and opened the innings alongside Shubman Gill. The stand-in India captain scored just 22 and 23 runs in two innings and Gill, on the other hand, scored a terrific century in India’s second innings.

During an interaction on ESPNcricinfo, Wasim Jaffer was asked whether Rahul should make way for Rohit based on his batting form. He responded:

“On form, I think yeah, it does look like KL is the only one. But I feel that if India is going with 5 bowlers then I feel the unfortunate guy would be KL or they could go with 4 bowlers. They might just squeeze KL in. It’s going to be interesting to see who gets dropped in the last Test.”

The way he’s batting, I feel, he needs to step up his game – Wasim Jaffer on KL Rahul

Wasim Jaffer. Photo- Twitter — Jaffer. Photo- Twitter

During the same interaction, Wasim Jaffer said that Rahul handled the captaincy responsibility very well in the first Test against Bangladesh and he got most things right. However, the 44-year-old was disappointed with Rahul’s batting performance and opined that he needs to step up his game. Wasim Jaffer said:

“As a captain, he’ll be very happy. He didn’t have a lot of success as a captain. Even though it was Bangladesh, he got most things right, but I feel that as a batsman, he needs to do a lot of things right. The way he’s batting, I feel, he needs to step up his game a little bit. Lately, he’s not the old KL Rahul we’ve seen. He needs to turn up as a batsman pretty soon.”

India National Cricket Team defeated Bangladesh National Cricket Team by 188 runs in the first Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The second Test is set to be played from December 22 to 26 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.