The Indian Cricket Team were captained by Shubman Gill and they lost the three-match ODI series in England by 1-2. India lost the third match at Lord’s by 27 runs. England scored 387/3 and restricted India to 360/7.

Why is KL Rahul’s batting position under scrutiny?

Wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul was sent to bat at number 6 at Lord’s as well, where he scored just 12 runs off 8 balls. In the Birmingham ODI, Rahul had scored 1 run off 3 balls, and he missed the second match in Cardiff due to illness.

Who slammed Gautam Gambhir over KL Rahul’s demotion?

Former Indian captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth is unhappy with the team management’s decision to push Rahul down the batting order. He criticized head coach Gautam Gambhir and the management, calling the move a “huge injustice.” Srikkanth said that, just like Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Sanju Samson, Rahul’s career is also being ruined.

What did Srikkanth say on his YouTube channel about Rahul’s role?

Speaking on his YouTube channel, former chief selector Srikkanth said, “Would anyone send KL Rahul at No. 6 while chasing such a big total? He has won many matches for India, even during tough run-chases. Just like you messed up with Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, you are now doing the same with KL Rahul. Is Rahul a No. 6 or No. 7 batter? This is a huge injustice. Even his body language at Lord’s looked nervous.”

Where should KL Rahul bat according to Srikkanth?

Srikkanth believes Rahul should bat at No. 4, a position where he has built successful partnerships with Virat Kohli in the past.

How did India’s tactical failure impact the run chase?

He further said, “India needed someone to play a role like Jos Buttler. However, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer got out quickly. But if Rahul had batted at No. 4, he could have supported Virat Kohli. He did that many times during the 2023 World Cup. Rahul can easily build an innings and accelerate later. Instead, he was sent to bat when the match was almost over. How could India win when 15 runs per over were needed while batting with Axar Patel?”

How did Jos Buttler’s late explosion tilt the match for England?

For context, in the Lord’s ODI, experienced English cricketer Jos Buttler came in at No. 5 and played an unbeaten knock of 41 runs off just 13 balls. His quick innings helped England finish strongly and set a massive total. Ben Duckett scored a century (141), while Jacob Bethell (91) and Joe Root (74 not out) also played solid innings.

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