Inclusion of KL Rahul for Australia & New Zealand ODIs irks Twitterati

He is going through one of the worst phases of his career, failing to score a fifty in his last 12 international innings despite being one of India’s premier batsmen. Yet KL Rahul has been retained for the Indian squad for the next three series abroad – all in the limited-over formats. On Monday, the out-of-form batsman’s name was announced as part of the squads for the ODIs in Australia and the ODIs and T20Is in New Zealand scheduled in January-February. And the decision has clearly left the Twitter baffled.

Rahul’s only fifty since Oval hundred came against Afghanistan in September

KL Rahul’s last international innings of prominence came at the Oval in September when he wrapped up the five-match Test series versus England with a hundred. He has scored only one fifty since then in international cricket and it came against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup in September. The only other time he crossed the fifty-run mark was against Cricket Australia XI in a side game in Sydney. In the first two Tests that Rahul has played against Australia, he has managed 48 runs at an average of 12.

The batsman with his horrific run with the willow has yet been getting chances to play regularly for the national team and the Twitter has found it inexplicable. Even young wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant could make it only to the T20I squad against New Zealand and the fans were unhappy with the decision to continue with Rahul, even at the expense of Pant.

Rahul has luck going his way in the Test series against Australia since the other specialist opener Prithvi Shaw got ruled out of the series with an ankle injury. With him being left out of the third Test, ODIs in Australia and New Zealand might just be the last chance to redeem his international career now.

Here’s how Twitter expressed its disappointment over Rahul’s selection:

KL Rahul retains his spot. Great news for Australia & New Zealand fans. ❤️ https://t.co/6EwQsUil5x

— The Engineer Bro (@theengineerbroo) December 24, 2018

Please give a chance to Yuvi instead of taking K L Rahul

— Rishikarthik1811 (@RishiRakesh1811) December 24, 2018

Strange.. despite such a low performance & poor form..K L Rahul still makes to the ODI squad.#poorselection @BCCI

— Abhishek Pandey (@loveabhi86) December 24, 2018

How is K L Rahul getting more chances inspite of so many failures….!!!

— Santosh Bhat (@santoshmb) December 24, 2018

Why KL Rahul ? On what basis ? Its better to allow Prithivi Shaw or Raina. This is some serious issue with selection committee.

— Sumit Mishra (@Sumit2350) December 24, 2018

Why KL Rahul, Whose weaknees is just bowling . Why don’t you people try other players .
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻MSD:)😍😍🤗🤗

— JITENDRA (@Ji10dra0010) December 24, 2018

Still not the return of @ajinkyarahane88 whats happening @BCCI really don't understand everyone knows that @ajinkyarahane88 is far batter then @klrahul11 but Rahul is thare and not Rahane really don't understand the team plan Rahane is best backup in #wc19 for opening and no4

— MD SAWOOD (@syed_sawood) December 24, 2018

KL Rahul now pic.twitter.com/PFWg9DFDsk

— #Lucia (@Raju_SigningIN) December 24, 2018

Kl Rahul is backup opener my foot. Ajinkya rahane is more than 15, 50s as a opener. He is technically correct in swinging condition. Virat s friendship will go down Indian team

— jagdish kare (@jagdish_kare) December 24, 2018

Kl rahul need some rest from scoring “no runs”

— Doctor Strange 🧛‍♂️ (@h4riu) December 24, 2018

How I was wishing KL Rahul should have given some time to rethink about his career options🤔🤔😂😂😂 #KLRahul #INDvAUS #AUSvIND

— P a l l a v i (@pallzie) December 24, 2018

Why Kohli and Shastri continuously backing #klrahul ?
Someone has to come up and correct this mental illness while selecting him in each time every format and with same result /performance.

This is something else,
Need good management to correct these mistakes#kohli#shastri

— Sarang Sambare (@SarangS21) December 24, 2018

Too many chances given to #KLRahul. He overtaken #rohitsharma chances.

— Thambidurai (@thambi1986) December 24, 2018

Can someone plzz remove @klrahul11 ….we want @ImRaina in the team ..he is best suited at no. 4…

— Shubham kumar (@Shubham93539198) December 24, 2018

If Dhawan play bad
He removes from India's squad
If KL Rahul play bad
He selects again and again
Why?

— Suhel Ahmad (@SuhelAh06656384) December 25, 2018