WTC 2023 Finals: Former India Coach Backs KL Rahul Over KS Bharat — Here's Why

KS Bharat came under the scanner after a few fumbles begins the stumps in the recently passed Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

KL Rahul in action. ( Image Source :Getty )

India’s batter KL Rahul was going through a torrid run for some time now, but then he showed why he is rated so highly during the first ODI vs Australia as he hammered a half-century at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Rahul's knock came under pressure and with this innings, he has silenced all his critics.

Speaking about the same, former India coach Ravi Shastri reckoned that India should play KL Rahul in the WTC final instead of KS Bharat in order to strengthen the Indian batting line-up. KS Bharat came under the scanner after a few fumbles begins the stumps in the recently passed Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

"He has really done well to keep the selectors interested ahead of the WTC final," Shastri said while commentating during the first ODI between India and Australia.

"Two things, one for the ODI series when Rohit Sharma returns and the other for the WTC final. India can bolster their batting if Rahul can keep wickets. Rahul can bat in the middle-order No. 5 or No. 6.  In England, you have to generally keep wickets from far behind. You don't have to keep up to the spinners a lot.  He has 3 more ODIs to go before the IPL. He can cement his place in the Indian team."

Talking about the first ODI, Rahul scored a brilliant 75 and played a crucial role in India's five-wicket win over Australia. While chasing the paltry total of 189 runs, India at one point time were under pressure when they lost four wickets for just 39 runs. But then KL Rahul and Jadeja took India to a winning line by sticking a 108-run stand for the sixth wicket.

“Saw three wickets fall down early, Starc was swinging the ball well and when he brings the ball back in, he is a dangerous bowler. Just tried to play normal cricketing shots. Got a few boundaries away and that settled my nerves. I batted with Shubman, Hardik, and Jadeja. The talk was that there’s help on the wicket but we did not want to get into our shell and play out a certain bowler. We wanted to be positive and put the loose balls away. If we are good without footwork, we could do well and it was fun batting with Jadeja,” Rahul said after the match.