Aakash Chopra shuts down talks of KL Rahul getting dropped; calls him a 'runaway match-winner'

In the ongoing T20I series between India and England, KL Rahul’s form has been put into question after he scored one run in the first match, and then ended with a six-ball duck in the second. However, former Indian batsman Aakash Chopra has shown faith in the batsman and termed him a ‘runaway match-winner.’

India is preparing for the T20 World Cup at home later this year. Due to this, the Indian team is struggling to find one set opening combination. At first, captain Virat Kohli had said Rahul will open with Rohit Sharma, but then Shikhar Dhawan partnered with him for the first match. With Dhawan getting dropped for the second match, Ishan Kishan came in and smashed a 32-ball 56 on debut. 

After the match, many felt KL Rahul’s scores in the series has put his place in the T20I side at a risk. Chopra replied saying that if we start questioning everyone after just two bad knocks, we might end up with a group of insecure players. In the past, the Indian team has shown faith in talented cricketers like Rahul and Rishabh Pant, which has given them good results. 

If it’s Rahul today, it’ll be Ishan tomorrow, says Aakash Chopra

“If we start asking questions about a runaway match-winner after just two low-scores, we aren’t going to build a team that’ll win the World Cup. If it’s Rahul today, it’ll be Ishan tomorrow…Pant day after. And then…will have a team of insecure players. IMHO,” tweeted back to ESPNCricinfo’s post. 

KL Rahul has been one of the most prolific performers in T20 cricket. He was the highest run-getter in the IPL 2020 when scored 670 runs for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings.) Before that, he had scored 593 and 659 runs in the 2019 and 2018 IPL seasons respectively. 

On top of that, Rahul’s numbers in T20Is are quite magnificent. This was one of the prime reasons why he was picked up as the first-choice opener with Rohit Sharma, ahead of Shikhar Dhawan. Rahul is the no.3 ranked T20I batsman right now. He averages 41.7 in T20Is and his strike rate is 143.67, putting him right up among the best batters in the world.