Former India batter Aakash Chopra has named KL Rahul as his front runner to keep wickets during the India vs England ODI Series. The 47-year-old believes that Rahul should be given the chance to play ahead of Rishabh Pant. The former opener turned commentator also noted Rahul doing well for India during the 2023 ODI World Cup as a wicketkeeper and batter.
While speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, “There are two schools of thought. One is that you have all right-handers; Shubman Gill is there with Rohit Sharma, then Virat Kohli, Rahul and Hardik Pandya. So don't you want a left-hander there? People who come with that thinking are saying Rishabh Pant should be played."
Rohit Sharma and his side are set to play the first ODI on Thursday in Nagpur. The series is important for both sides, with the massive ICC Champions Trophy set to begin on 19th February. India are in the same group as New Zealand, Bangladesh, and hosts Pakistan. England are placed with South Africa, Australia, and Afghanistan.
Former India batter wants KL Rahul to be given longer run
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Choprsaid said, “What goes in KL Rahul's favour is what wrong has he done. Just because his name is Rahul, will you keep drumming him? Will you keep getting him to do all the jobs, whether it's keeping, going down or up the order, and serving the drinks? No, that's not going to happen.”
The 47-year-old said, “He played well in the World Cup. I still remember the Australia match at Chepauk. India were reduced 25/3, or something like that, and he performed like a Player of the Match. Then he continuously scored alright. He was criticized a lot for batting a little slow in the final, but we might not have reached where we reached if he had gotten out instead of batting slow.”
“I am going with KL Rahul. I am going with continuity. Why would you drop someone who hasn't done anything wrong just because someone else does well? Rishabh Pant's ODI record is a work in progress and KL Rahul hasn't done anything wrong. So Rahul should be the frontrunner," Aakash Chopra ended by saying.