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Former India batter Manoj Tiwary reckons that KL Rahul will be under a lot of pressure to retain his place in the Test XI in the wake of Sarfaraz Khan's impressive batting performances. Admitting that the management will continue to prefer Rahul over Sarfaraz when Shubman Gill comes back, Tiwary opined that Rahul needs to perform a lot more consistently.
Both Sarfaraz and Rahul were dismissed without scoring in India's first innings of the ongoing Test against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. However, the former hit an unbeaten 70 in India's second innings as India went to stumps at 231-3 on Day 3 on Friday, October 18.
Rahul is yet to bat in India's second innings and might get out with Sarfaraz on Saturday, with Virat Kohli (70) being dismissed off the last ball on Day 3. During an interaction on Cricbuzz, Tiwary was asked if Sarfaraz has done enough to retain his place in the playing XI ahead of Rahul when Gill is fit for selection.
"You cannot remove Shubman Gill as of now because he scored a hundred in the previous series and he also has a very good record. When he recovers from his stiff neck, he will become an automatic choice. KL Rahul will be the one under most pressure," Tiwary replied.
"Even if Rahul doesn't score runs in the next two Tests, he will still get preference for the initial Tests in Australia. But, if he doesn't perform there as well, then Sarfaraz could come into the playing XI. I feel Sarfaraz should also get a fair opportunity. It is good that the players who are in the reserves are performing. There will definitely be pressure on some players in the playing XI," he added.
Sarfaraz replaced Gill in the playing XI for the Bengaluru Test against New Zealand after the latter was ruled out of the game due to a stiff neck.
Sarfaraz has made a promising start to his Test career
After a long and frustrating wait, Mumbai batter Sarfaraz was finally handed his Test debut during England's tour of India earlier this year. His hunger to prove himself has been evident in the kind of performances he has put up in his short but entertaining Test career so far.
In seven innings, the right-handed batter has scored 270 runs at an average of 54. The 26-year-old hit 62 and 68* on his Test debut in Ranchi. In the fifth and final Test against England in Dharamsala, he contributed a quick-fire 56. He was unbeaten on 70 at stumps on Day 3 in the ongoing Test in Bengaluru.
