‘Social media doesn't decide playing XI’ - Gautam Gambhir reflects on KL Rahul’s recent criticism

India head coach Gautam Gambhir recently came forward and backed an out-of-form KL Rahul to get back to his best form. It is worth noting that Rahul has been at the receiving end of some heavy criticism regarding his form in the longest format after India were defeated by New Zealand in the first Test of the three-game series. 

In the first Test against New Zealand, KL Rahul was dismissed for a duck in the first innings, he then followed it up by scoring 12 runs in the second innings. In the end, New Zealand managed to defeat India by eight wickets. 

However, despite Rahul’s form in recent weeks, India head coach Gautam Gambhir threw his weight behind the out-of-form Rahul and laid out his expectations of him for the second game. 

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"Social media doesn't decide playing XI. It is not important what social media or experts think, it is important what team management thinks. He had a decent knock in a tough Kanpur pitch. Yes, he would want to score big runs. And this team management is looking to back him,” Gambhir said in the pre-game press conference. 

He has had a decent knock in Kanpur: Gambhir

Furthermore, Gambhir heaped praise on KL Rahul, talking about his knock against Bangladesh in the Kanpur Test. Rahul scored 68 runs in 43 deliveries against Bangladesh in the second Test, and Gambhir talked about how he wants more of that from him in the upcoming games. 

"But I feel he (Rahul) is batting really well, he has had a decent knock in Kanpur, obviously on a difficult wicket and he played according to the plans. I am sure he would be knowing that he wants to score big runs, he has that capability of scoring these big runs that is why he is being backed by the team management," Gambhir was quoted as saying by the Times of India.  

It is worth noting that for the second Test of the ongoing series, India and New Zealand will take on each other in Pune from October 24.