KL Rahul's adaptability was on full display during India’s second ODI against New Zealand in Rajkot on Wednesday. Batting at the number five position, Rahul led India's recovery after early setbacks, slamming a knock of 112 unbeaten off 92 balls. Over the course of his knock, Rahul cracked 11 boundaries and a six, reaffirming his value in the middle order. This was Rahul's eighth hundred in ODIs, and he also became the first Indian wicketkeeper to score a hundred against New Zealand in the ODIs.
He was unbeaten in the series opener, scoring 29 runs. Impressed by his temperament and ability to build the innings, former India batter Dodda Ganesh urged the Indian team management to persist with Rahul at this position in ODIs.
"Kannur Lokesh Rahul! This is what he can do at no 5 in the ODIs. For heaven's sake, please let him bat there," Dodda Ganesh wrote on X.
Dodda Ganesh further stated that sending Rahul down to number six below Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja will be a cardinal sin.
"This is why I was always harping about having KL Rahul at no 5, in the ODIs. KL knows to pace the inns well, and has all the shots in his armoury to go all-out in the death. Pushing him to no 6, below Axar/Jadeja, is going to be a cardinal sin. KL is Rolls-Royce. Use him #INDvNZ," Dodda Ganesh further wrote in another post on X.