AUS vs IND 2025: “It’s questionable if you want to continue with that” - World Cup winner slams India's batting order

Former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan questioned the Indian team management's decision to persist with Axar Patel at No. 5 in the batting order during the ongoing ODI series against Australia. The all-rounder scored 31 (38) in the first ODI and 44 (41) in the second.

While Zaheer praised Axar for grabbing his opportunities, he wondered whether KL Rahul, who had to drop down to No. 6, would have been able to make more of an impact had he walked out to bat ahead of his Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper.

"It's questionable if you want to continue with that. But Axar is producing results there, so the temptation is always going to be there. He has been very consistent in whatever opportunities he has had. He looks to be very comfortable in playing that role and showed today also that he's growing in confidence in that position. The think tank has been pushing for this, having a left-hander to tackle the spinners in the middle," Zaheer told Cricbuzz.

It can also counterproduce what they are trying to achieve: Zaheer

Zaheer urged the Indian think tank to contemplate the other side of the spectrum when it comes to promoting Axar up the order and maintaining a left-right combination through the middle overs. The former India seamer wondered if Rahul or even all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy could produce more with the bat if they got more balls to face.

"How do you weigh that kind of a middle order position? That's the question the think tank needs to ask themselves. If KL Rahul is given more deliveries to face, what impact will he bring or even Nitish Reddy for that matter? It can also counterproduce what they are trying to achieve, like today when Washington Sundar and Axar were together, the Australian skipper bowled the off-spinner," said Zaheer (via the aforementioned source).

"Sometimes when you do these tactics, the main batter will be left with lesser deliveries. So he'll have to alter his game and approach and that is something you'll have to think about tactically - if you want to continue with this kind of thought process," he added.

Rahul and Reddy were dismissed for 11 and 8, respectively, in the second ODI. However, half-centuries from Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer and handy cameos from Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh helped the Men in Blue get to a competitive total of 264/9 in 50 overs.