'Being KL Rahul Is Tough': Netizens React As Rohit Sharma Drops Star Batter From Playing XI For 2nd Test (Source: AP)
KL Rahul was left out of the India playing XI for the second Test against New Zealand. The move was anticipated, with Shubman Gill recovering from the neck stiffness. India had to make a call on whether to play KL Rahul or Sarfaraz Khan and the team persisted with Sarfaraz, who scored a magnificent 150 in the first Test in Bengaluru. Rahul, on the other hand, endured a poor outing and scored a duck and 12 in the two innings respectively.
Rahul has played a few wonderful knocks for India, but he hasn't been very consistent. He had a chance to script a memorable win for India after Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant laid the platform for India to set a 250+ run target for New Zealand in the first Test, however, Rahul succumbed to pressure as India collapsed from 408-3 to 462 all-out, setting a target of 107 runs for New Zealand.
Meanwhile, fans on social media gave mixed reactions to KL Rahul's omission from the second Test.
India Make Three Changes For 2nd Test vs New Zealand
Meanwhile, India made three changes in the playing XI for the second Test. While Shubman Gill replaced KL Rahul, Akash Deep was preferred ahead of Mohammed Siraj. Kuldeep Yadav was also left out of the playing XI, with India bringing Washington Sundar, who was added to the squad following a defeat in the first Test.
New Zealand captain Tom Latham won the toss and opted to bat on the flat surface. Rohit Sharma too wanted to bat first and said the team will look to take early wickets with the new ball.
"Would've batted as well. When you play a Test match like that, the first session didn't go our way. But we batted well in the second innings. We take a lot of positives from that and see how we can turn things around here. Always want to find ways to get back into the Test match when you're behind. That's what we did. Pitch is a little drier, yes. We do understand how important the first 10 overs are. Three changes - Siraj, KL and Kuldeep miss out. Akash Deep, Washington and Gill come in," said Rohit Sharma at the toss.
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