India should decide whether KL Rahul is an opener or a middle order batter: Ajit Agarkar

Former Indian seamer Ajit Agarkar wanted the Indian management to decide if KL Rahul is an opener or a middle-order batter ahead of the upcoming home series against West Indies. India is slated to play three ODIs and three T20Is against the West Indies starting from the 6th of February. Rahul was India’s best batter in the three Tests, however, he couldn’t replicate the same form while opening the innings in the ODIs against South Africa in the absence of Rohit Sharma.

With the return of Rohit at the top, India is expected to go in with Dhawan-Rohit Combination at the top which pushed Rahul back to the middle order at number 4 or 5 in which he has done really well. However, there is a case for Dhawan to be left out despite being India’s highest run-scorer in the ODI series against South Africa, simply because of his age factor and insecurity over trusting him for a long period of time until the next World Cup.

It was a bit disappointing when KL Rahul opened: Ajit Agarkar

Agarkar mentioned that India should sort out if Rahul is seen as an opener or a middle batter in ODIs and revealed his disappointment over the latter suddenly moving to the top of the order in South Africa. He added about the options in Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant if Dhawan is not in the form during the World Cup. Dhawan and Rohit have had a huge success at the top of the order for India over the last decade in ODI format especially.

“I think that’s the first thing they need to decide, whether he is an opener or a middle-order batsman because he was the captain in South Africa and he opened, which to me it was a bit disappointing because he’s been so successful at number 4 or 5 and that’s the role that they were looking at,” Ajit Agarkar told in Star Sports Game plan

“If that is not going to be the case then again you have got to stick to what you decide if you are going to be an opener then you may as well open the innings with Rohit in the series. So, that will be interesting to see because Shikhar Dhawan is there as well, I am not sure in a year or year and a half’s time where Shikhar Dhawan would be, even though he has got runs in South Africa. You have got a couple of explosive players like Ishan Kishan or even someone like Rishabh Pant. Who knows whether it will work giving him a chance for the top of the order,” he added

India has the likes of Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav in the middle order as well and it is going to be tough to pick the playing XI for the West Indies series. Deepak Hooda is likely to make his debut after being recalled into the side and he can play the role of a finisher as well as roll his arm over if needed.