Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez has pointed out a weakness in the Indian team ahead of their Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final against Australia on Tuesday. Hafeez stated that KL Rahul's wicketkeeping is one area that India will be concerned about, given how he fumbled in the game against New Zealand.
Rahul missed a few catches behind the stumps against the Black Caps, leaving the likes of Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja and Virat Kohli slightly frustrated. The Karnataka-born cricketer's form with the bat has also been concerning as he scored 23 against New Zealand but made an unbeaten 41 against Bangladesh.
Speaking on PTV Sports, Hafeez said KL Rahul's keeping struggles could bite India in a critical game:
"KL Rahul ki wicketkeeping jo hai, woh ek grey are nazar aa raha hai. Is waqt is team ke andar koi ek area jo improve karne ki main baat karun toh woh Rahul ki wicketkeeping hai. Unki jo body hai woh ball ki taraf nahin jaa raha hai. Ball left side pe jaa raha hai toh, body right side pe tilt karta hai. Aur unke haath bhi ball ke saath nahin jaa rahe. Abhi tak ka grey area pe baat karein toh inki keeping pe sawaal uthaaya jaayega aur woh ho sakta hai inko bite kare."
(I see a grey area in this Indian team which is KL Rahul's wicketkeeping. If there is anything to improve in this side, it's Rahul's wicketkeeping. His body is not going towards the ball. If the ball goes towards the left, the body goes to the right. His hands are not going towards the ball either. If you talk about a grey area, it's this and it might come to bite them.)
"We don't play so many matches here" - Rohit Sharma on Dubai being advantageous for India
At the presser on Monday, Team India skipper Rohit Sharma addressed all the critics of the Men in Blue getting undue advantage by playing in Dubai, he said, as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo:
"It's not like we know what's going to happen on these pitches. We don't know which pitch will be used in the semi-final, but whatever it is, we will have to adapt and see how it goes. And it's not our home either - this is Dubai. We don't play so many matches here, it's new for us as well."
