KL Rahul is being used as the keeper-batsman for the Indian national cricket team and the team seems to be happy about the outcome. Now KL has got support from veterans like Irfan Pathan and VVS Laxman as well.
Pathan backs KL Rahul
In the recent past, Rishabh Pant’s rise as the preferred keeper after MS Dhoni has become the talk of the town. But his constant failure followed by injury made the way of KL Rahul to the limited-overs as the keeper-batsman. The in-form KL has been included team for the dual role and as Virat Kohli suggested, this is allowing the team to play an extra bat in the format.
While KL is already doing a decent job as the keeper, his comparison with Pant has begun. Irfan Pathan, speaking to Star Sports said that in keeping department KL is better than Pant. “I really believe that Rishabh Pant has a big future when it comes to about his batting abilities. In keeping, he still needs to improve, he needs to work a lot. KL Rahul is actually keeping better than Rishabh Pant at the moment”.
Pathan further added, “Even if Pant is warming the bench now, the team management should give him serious backing that although you are not in the Playing XI, it doesn’t mean that you are not in the scheme of things. He has a bright future but he needs to work a lot”.
Laxman echoes Pathan’s thought
Laxman came out in support of his ex-colleague and said that Pant has to work really hard to improve his keeping. “Rishabh Pant should understand that he is a frontline keeper, the team management is reposing faith on a keeper in the form of KL Rahul who doesn’t regularly keep in international cricket. He does for Karnataka in the Vijay Hazare and in the Mushtaq Ali. It means Pant has to work hard on his keeping”.
Laxman hoped that the management must have informed about the same to Pant and he would be able to do accordingly to fit into the team. “There’s a message that team management must have passed on to Rishabh Pant. It’s not about his batting, it’s about improving his keeping skills”.
