KL Rahul replacement: Who can replace out-of-form Indian opener in Tests vs South Africa?

KL Rahul replacement: The Indian opening batsman has been struggling to get going in Test matches in the recent times.

There is no hiding to the fact that India opening batsman Lokesh Rahul has been receiving the backing of the team management in Test matches for a long time now. Despite returning with below par numbers, Rahul has been repeatedly trusted with facing the new ball.

In 17 Tests since November 2017, Rahul has scored 664 runs at an average of 22.89 and a strike rate of 54.92 including one century and two half-centuries. It was due to this unsuccessful spree that him getting named for the tour of West Indies was questionable.

In two Tests against West Indies last month, Rahul scored 101 runs at an average of 25.25 and a strike rate of 37.26. Having missed another golden opportunity to be among the runs, there have been many calls demanding his exclusion from the test team.

KL Rahul replacement

Having scored three half-centuries in four Tests so far, Mayank Agarwal deserves more chances at the highest level. With Prithvi Shaw undergoing a ban term, Indian selectors would be looking for a new batsman to open the innings in Tests.

Rohit Sharma

In 27 Tests which India limited-overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma has played, he has scored 1,585 runs at an average of 39.62 and a strike rate of 55.01 including three centuries and 10 half-centuries. Sharma’s start-stop Test career finds him in the team but not in the Playing XI.

India captain Virat Kohli didn’t shy away from explaining why Hanuma Vihari was picked ahead of Sharma during the tour of West Indies. In what seems to be a legitimate reason, the only position where Kohli can fit Sharma is at the top of the order.

In a recent interview with India Today, India chief selector MSK Prasad has also hinted at discussing the prospects of Rohit Sharma opening in Tests. It is true that Sharma hasn’t ever opened in Tests but the same was the case when he was made an opener in limited-over format. Citing his transformation and experience as an opener in ODIs and T20Is, the move has it in it to benefit the Indian test team.

Priyank Panchal

Gujarat opening batsman Priyank Panchal has been knocking the doors of the Indian Test team for quite sometime now. In 87 First-class matches, Panchal has scored 6,186 runs at an average of 47.22 including 21 centuries and 23 half-centuries.

Having top-scored (1,310 runs at an average of 87.33 and a strike rate of 54.60) in Ranji Trophy during the 2016-17 season, Panchal has been in top form in the following two seasons. In the 2017-18 season, Panchal had scored 542 runs at an average of 60.22 and a strike rate of 51.66.

The last season of the tournament saw Panchal scoring 898 runs at an average of 59.86 and a strike rate of 70.48. Having scored 11 First-class centuries in 26 matches speaks highly about Panchal’s domination in the last three seasons.

Abhimanyu Easwaran

Much like Panchal, Bengal opening batsman Abhimanyu Easwaran has also been among the runs in the domestic circuit. If Panchal was the fourth-highest run-scorer in the last season of Ranji Trophy, Easwaran ended the season as its seventh-highest run-scorer.

In six matches, Easwaran had scored 861 runs at an average of 95.66 and a strike rate of 59.33 including three centuries and half-centuries each. Overall in 52 First-class matches, the 24-year old right-hand batsman has amassed 4,067 runs at an average of 49.59 and a strike rate of 51.06 including 13 centuries and 17 half-centuries.

Opening the batting with Panchal in the final of the Duleep Trophy against India Green last week, Easwaran had scored 153 (300) with the help of 16 fours and two sixes in a match-winning effort.

While Easwaran scored a solitary half-century in six innings for India A in West Indies, he had scored a dominating 233 (321) with the help of 22 fours and three sixes against Sri Lanka A at home in May.