KL Rahul isn't setting the stage on fire as an opener: Sanjay Manjrekar

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar feels star India batter KL Rahul isn’t the right option to open for India in the first Test against Australia in Perth. Notably, India captain Rohit Sharma will be missing the series opener set to begin from November 22 leaving the team management with a massive task of finding his ideal replacement.

The coaching staff has backed Rahul to do the job at the top of the order given his massive experience of opening in Australia in the past. Rahul was also added to the India A squad for the second unofficial Test against Australia A where he was promoted to open the innings.

However, his poor form continued as he edged Scott Boland in the first innings after scoring just 4 and later got dismissed for 10 in the second innings in a bizarre fashion with the ball going between his legs. Keeping his current form in mind, Manjrekar feels under confident Rahul won’t be India’s best opening option in Australia as an opener’s job is to set the tempo of the innings.

“It’s not like KL Rahul as an opening option is setting the stage on fire. Going by the reality, KL Rahul currently you can see, you’ve got to feel for him, I love him as a player the kind of talent he has. He looks a bit down on confidence and you don’t want someone like him batting at the top of the order because much of the tempo of the innings is set at the start number 1,2 and 3,” Manjrekar said on ESPNCricinfo.

Since 2022, Rahul has scored 514 runs in Tests from 12 matches (21 innings) at an average of 25.7 having registered three half-centuries and a century. Moreover, his numbers as an opener in Australia also don’t paint a good picture with the 32-year-old having 183 runs to his name from four matches (seven innings) at an average of 26.14 and a strike rate of 45.29 with one century.

Manjrekar suggests sending Rahul at number 6

Further speaking ahead, Manjrekar said that Rahul will be more useful at number six for the team batting with the tail against a softer ball.

“I’m going by KL Rahul for the work he’s done down the order and very recently in South Africa. He was batting at number six with a softer Kookaburra ball and if he has to bat with the tailenders, I feel he will be terrific where he’s got the big game as well. So I see KL better used and more chances of KL Rahul adding value to the team at that position,” he added.

Despite his poor form and lack of confidence, Rahul seems to be the front-runner to open in Perth as he was also see opening in the match simulation practice ahead of the first Test. It remains to be seen who fills in injured Shubman Gill at number three with Dhruv Jurel, Abhimanyu Easwaran and Devdutt Padikkal in the reckoning.