28 February,2023 08:20 AM IST | Kolkata | mid-day online correspondent
KL Rahul and Sourav Ganguly
Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly once warned KL Rahul of 'flak' in India if he could not contribute well enough with the willow. Ganguly felt it would become difficult for the opener to avoid scathing criticism for his protracted poor run because of the enormous expectations attached with the job, especially when past cricketers have set high standards.
Stripped of vice captaincy, Rahul hasn't crossed the 25-run mark in his last 10 Test knocks. An average of less than 35 in 47 Tests isn't an actual realisation of his real potential.
"When you don't score runs in India, obviously you will get flak. Rahul hasn't been the only one. There have been players in the past too," Ganguly said on the sidelines of Delhi Capitals' IPL pre-season camp.
Ganguly tried to put things in perspective as to why the Bangalore man is being persisted with despite repeated failures.
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"There's so much focus and attention with a lot of pressure on players. The team management thinks he is an important player for the team. At the end of the day, what coach and captain thinks is important," the veteran of 113 Tests and 311 ODIs said.
While Rahul has played some quality knocks in England and Australia, Ganguly said it's obvious that people will expect way more from a talented player like Rahul, who has managed just five Test hundreds in nine years.
"He has performed, but obviously you expect a lot more from a top order batter playing for India because the standards set by others are so high.
"When you fail for a while, obviously there will be criticism."
So is Rahul's problem technical or mental? "Both," pat comes the reply.
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But the former BCCI president also gave an interesting insight into Rahul's lack of runs as he is getting out to pacers as well as spinners in all conditions in recent times. "It also makes it hard if you are playing on these sorts of pitches as the balls are turning and bouncing. There's uneven bounce and when you are not in form, it makes it even more harder."
