kl rahul dinesh karthik sportstiger

India’s opening batter, KL Rahul is going through probably the worst phase of his cricketing career. Ever since his return to cricket from the injury layoff, Rahul has not looked the same and the numbers tell no different story. First, he failed to perform for India in crucial tournaments like the Asia Cup 2022 and T20 World Cup 2022. The 30-year-old then lost a chance to become Rohit Sharma’s deputy in white-ball cricket. 

Recently, after his elongated poor run in Test cricket too, Rahul was stripped of vice-captaincy in Tests. Now, the batter very well may also lose his spot in the playing XI with so much criticism around him. Amid all this, India’s wicketkeeper batter Dinesh Karthik has shared a few words of wisdom for Rahul.

Karthik reckons there is nothing technically wrong with Rahul and the batter needs some time off to reboot himself. The 37-year-old also cited his own example of how he dealt with such situations (while talking about the unfortunate dismissal in the second inning of Delhi Test). 

"This is a professional world, you've got to deal with those sorrowful moments but as a player when I look at what he has gone through. When you get out that way knowing very well this could have been your last innings. It has happened to me when you go into the dressing room, quietly walk into the toilet, and shed a tear or two. It's not a nice feeling because there's not much you can do," he said.

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Karthik then gave his opinion on who should play in the third Test. The wicketkeeper batter then also backed Rahul to come good in the ODI series. 

"Temporarily for the moment, I will have to go with Shubman Gill. He batted beautifully. There will be just one change in the India XI (for the third Test). I felt bad for KL Rahul. He has been under the scanner. But One thing is for sure, KL will come back strongly and when he does, there are not too many right-handed batters who can match him with the quality and range of shots," DK said.