Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra expressed a significant concern on Monday regarding the team's consecutive victories against England in the current home ODI series. He urged head coach Gautam Gambhir to decide on KL Rahul, especially with only one match left before the Champions Trophy.

Despite ongoing discussions about whether Rishabh Pant should be the primary wicketkeeper, India has opted for consistency by supporting Rahul in this role, considering his impressive performance during the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he amassed 452 runs at an average of 75.33 over ten innings, including one century.

However, following a series of disappointing performances against England, Chopra addressed the issue on his YouTube channel, noting that the Karnataka player has struggled to score in his last four matches, which includes the 2024 tour of Sri Lanka. Since the World Cup, he has managed only 120 runs in six innings, featuring one half-century and a dismissal for a duck.

Chopra further argued that Rahul is not ideally suited for the No. 6 position, where he has been placed against England, as the team has opted for left-handed Axar Patel at No. 5.

He remarked, “There is still one development that is taking place, but it remains to be seen if the Indian team can find a solution. KL Rahul is batting at No. 6. But is he truly the best choice for that position or No. 7? That is a significant question. A left-handed batsman is sent in ahead of him, and now Rahul has not scored runs in these two games and in the two matches he played in Sri Lanka. What is the next step?”

India's 'Hardik Pandya' ploy called out

The former Indian cricketer highlighted that, in light of India's preference for a left-handed batsman at the No. 5 position, Hardik Pandya has been relegated to bat at No. 7. Criticizing this approach, Chopra called for a reassessment of the team's lineup, especially with only one match left before the Champions Trophy. He proposed that Gambhir consider replacing Rahul with the left-handed Rishabh Pant.

"In this scenario, if Hardik bats at No. 7 and Jadeja at No. 8, I can still accept Jadeja in that position, but having Hardik at No. 7 is not ideal. He is batting at least two spots lower than he should be. I believe this strategy is flawed. Is it not time for Rishabh Pant to step in? He might be a more suitable choice at No. 6, particularly since a left-handed option is needed. India is still searching for the optimal combination, and time is of the essence," he remarked.

India is set to face England in their final match of the series on Wednesday in Ahmedabad.

Read Also: Shardul Thakur's 'Lordship' Reigns with 6-Wicket Haul in Ranji Trophy, Sparks England Tour Calls

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