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

Team India suffered a dismal whitewash at the hands of South Africa during the recently held three-match ODI series. Several decisions taken by the team management throughout the series earned criticism from various quarters. KL Rahul, who was standing in as captain for the injured Rohit Sharma, decided to open the batting with the backing of head coach Rahul Dravid.

However, the move didn’t work out as Rahul looked pedestrian in all three matches and failed to provide India with a confident start. His form and returns were especially disappointing given the fact that KL Rahul had played as a number 4 and number 5 batter in India’s ODI side successfully.

The upcoming series against West Indies will feature three ODIs and three T20Is and it will give the team another opportunity to sort out their combinations. With Rohit Sharma returning to the team, it is unlikely that KL Rahul will open the batting but the final decision obviously rests with the team management.

“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,” former Indian pacer Ajit Agarkar told in Star Sports Game Plan.

Shikhar Dhawan made an excellent comeback to the limited overs side after several months on the sidelines. Dhawan was India’s highest-scorer during the ODI series against South Africa. With that being said, his place in the team is far from sure given the age factor and recent doubts over his form and longevity.

Ajit Agarkar has suggested that even if the team is unwilling to back Shikhar Dhawan, they can try explosive young batters in Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant at the top as well.

“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