Sourav Ganguly says KL Rahul isn’t the first player to face criticism for non-performance

Stripped of vice-captaincy, Rahul hasn’t crossed the 25-run mark in his last 10 Test innings. 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. KL Rahul hasn’t been the only one.

There have been players in the past also,” Ganguly said on the sidelines of Delhi Capitals’ IPL pre-season camp. Ganguly tried to put things in perspective as to why the Bengaluru man is being persisted with despite repeated failures. “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,” he said. While Rahul has played some quality knocks in England and Australia, Ganguly said it’s obvious people will expect 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. I am sure Rahul has ability and I am sure that when he gets more opportunities, he will have to find ways to score,” he explained.

So is Rahul’s problem technical or mental? “Both,” pat came the reply. But the former BCCI president also provided 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 harder.”

SHUBMAN HAS TO WAIT
There has been a clamour to include Shubman Gill in the playing XI but Ganguly feels that the Punjab man will get his share of chances and there’s no harm if he has to wait a little bit. But what do you tell a player who is in red hot form but has to cool his heels? “I am sure when his time comes, he will also get a lot of opportunities. I think the selectors, the captain and the coach think of him and rate him very highly.

That’s why he is playing ODIs and T20Is, and he has performed as well. “But at the present moment, perhaps the message from team management is that he has to wait.” India have won two Test matches in a cumulative duration of five days of cricket and Ganguly isn’t surprised. Is the scoreline of 4-0 a real possibility for India? “The problem is, we keep comparing this Australian team from the teams of the past and it’s not the same. You don’t have a Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, Steve and Mark Waugh, (Adam) Gilchrist, you name them. You don’t have that quality,” Ganguly said.