Former Team India pacer Dodda Ganesh has called out the team management for demoting KL Rahul in the ongoing first ODI against England at the Vidarbha Cricket Association in Nagpur. With the management sending Axar Patel to bat at number five, the retired cricketer underlined that some wisemen find different ways to demote Rahul.
Although Rahul averages above 55 at both No.4 and 5 in ODIs, the Indian management didn't send a specialist batter after Shreyas Iyer's wicket. Instead, all-rounder Axar Patel came in at five but the left-hander performed well, hitting a crucial half-century to steer the hosts out of a tricky position by building a solid partnership with vice-captain Shubman Gill.
Meanwhile, Dodda Ganesh took to X and wrote:
"KL Rahul has been best at no 5; but the wisemen in the dressing room find different ways to demote him in this batting lineup. Absolutely ridiculous. What are you going to achieve by sending Axar at no 5?"
Rahul eventually came to bat at No.6 and perished for a single-figure score, falling to Adil Rashid.
Half-centuries from Shubman Gill, Axar Patel and Shreyas Iyer propel India to victory
After England skipper Jos Buttler won the toss, the tourists got off to a rapid start as openers Phil Salt and Ben Duckett stitched a 75-run partnership only in 8.5 overs. Fifties from Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell pushed England's cause after a middle-order collapse but it was the late fireworks from Jofra Archer that propelled their side to 248.
Although Archer and Saqib Mahmood dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma, respectively, Shreyas Iyer scored runs at a breakneck pace to put the pressure back on the opposition. After Iyer perished for 59, Gill and Axar took over to put the hosts on the brink of win.
Although India lost some wickets towards the end, they still won with 74 balls and four wickets to spare.
