For two games in a row, India have batted KL Rahul at No. 6. And in both games, he hasn’t scored many. In my opinion, that position isn’t the right one for Rahul, and the numbers bear that out. If India continue with the Axar Patel experiment at No. 5, and there’s no reason why they would not with the all-rounder doing extremely well with the bat, there is logic in trying out Rishabh Pant at No. 6. The point is simple. If Rahul is not batting at No. 5, where he has thrived in the past, there is reason to play Pant and explore the option. The simple question is who between Rahul and Pant is a better No. 6 option for India. And that’s why the idea of playing Pant in the third and final ODI comes up.
All of us will agree that Pant is a generational talent. He has been hugely successful in red-ball cricket and the 50-over format is one where he is capable of winning games for India. To do so, he deserves a longish run. While there is nothing to suggest that Rahul doesn’t deserve a place in the team, the point is that No. 6 is not the correct batting position for him. That’s why India should try Pant in Ahmedabad and see how he fares. Ahead of the Champions Trophy, all of the key players deserve a game and Pant is the only one to miss out so far.
Assuming that India will very rarely be reduced to 30-4 in good batting conditions, it is logical to assume that a No. 6 batter will come in late in the innings and will be expected to play shots from the get go. It will be more of a T20 situation than anything else. While Rahul needs a bit of time to get going, Pant can play shots from the outset. He is a good finisher, and being a left hand batter adds that variety as well. Also, he is a better keeper than Rahul and deserves an opportunity.
Let me also say that had the Axar experiment failed, I’d have thought twice before suggesting this. Rahul at No. 5 would have more time to settle in and make a difference. And his record there is exceptional. But a slot lower down is a very different proposition, and he does not seem as comfortable.
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I’d also like to see both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy play together in Ahmedabad. Ravindra Jadeja has little to prove and is a certainty in the line-up. India will have to choose one from Kuldeep and Varun, with Axar stepping up with the bat and giving Rohit that all-round option. Both Kuldeep and Varun have played a game each and it would be nice to see them both trying to outperform the other.
Finally, Arshdeep Singh too needs a game. While he is a certainty in the team in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and bowled superbly well in the T20I series, this is a very different format. In the absence of any warm-up matches in Dubai, he will surely benefit from some game time.
While we watch India for the final time ahead of the Champions Trophy, I would go with three changes in Ahmedabad. Pant for Rahul, Arshdeep for Harshit Rana, and Kuldeep for the rested Jadeja.
Also Read: With or without Bumrah, bench strength gives India Champions Trophy edge
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