‘I will still play him’ - Parthiv Patel picks KL Rahul over Sarfaraz Khan ahead of second NZ Test

Former India cricketer Parthiv Patel recently came forward and talked about how he would still pick KL Rahul ahead of Sarfaraz Khan in India’s lineup if Shubman Gill comes back for the second Test against New Zealand despite differing performances from both batters in the first Test. 

He opined that going with the team’s current thinking, the side could opt for KL Rahul rather than Sarfaraz. It is worth noting that India lost the first Test of the series in a humiliating fashion. New Zealand bundled India out for 46 runs in the first innings and went on to win the game by eight wickets. 

Ahead of the second Test, Patel opined that Gill would be available to play in the second Test, and the Indian team could opt for Rahul. 

"The question will be whether Sarfaraz Khan will get to play or they will go with KL Rahul. I will still play KL Rahul, the way the team has shown faith in him. I am thinking like that based on how the team's thinking has been," Patel told Colors Cineplex.

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"If you wanted, you could have made Rahul bat at No. 3 in this Test match but you said that you didn't want to change his position. Nothing to take from Sarfaraz's knock, he made 150 runs for sure, but it's the same situation as Mohammed Siraj or Akash Deep. There will definitely be pressure on KL Rahul but I would still play him," Patel observed.

I think both of them are in a similar situation: Ajay Jadeja

Furthermore, former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja gave his take on the matter as well. Jadeja agreed with Parthiv Patel’s opinion and revealed that KL Rahul could only miss out on the second Test if Mohammed Siraj is rested in favour of Akash Deep. 

"I am with him. I am seeing it in such a way that the player who was rested was a No. 3 batter. The guy you played in this match, you played him by removing Virat Kohli from No. 4. If you leave out Siraj, you will leave out KL Rahul as well. I think both of them are in a similar situation," Jadeja said.