with Virat Kohli’s sudden test retirement Just ahead IndiaThe much awaited five-match test series against England In June 2025, questions about India’s middle-order stability have resumed. With the era after Kohli, now, India finds itself into infection, and the position of number 4, once a fort under Kohli requires stability, experience and class.
Matthew Hayden suggests Virat Kohli’s ideal successor at number 4 in test
Former Australian opener Matthew HaydenSpeaking on Star Sports Game Plan, strongly advocated KL Rahul To step into Kohli’s former role at number 4, the experienced right -handed batsman is called ‘Adarsh ”, fit for the situation. He also emphasized that Rahul is eligible to bat where the team needs its most technically sound batsman.
“KL Rahul, he will open. I am just going to make that call. But my problem with this is that he believes that he is your best player in Test match cricket. He can be like a similar replacement of Virat Kohli, exactly Custom-Made at No. 4,” Hayden said.
Although the innings is expected to open with Rahul Yashsvi JaiswalHayden is concerned about its recurring dismissal in the innings, especially in challenging as foreign circumstances Australia And EnglandWhere the new ball swings and the seam is enough.
“That’s why I do not like him as a inaugural batsman, and we also saw in Australia, it is that he is caught 57% of the time back, closer. So he feels technically, how amazing it is, and then suddenly he is out,” Former explosive Southpow told.
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Strong number at number 4 for India in Test cricket
Despite Rahul’s visual nature and conservative technology, Hayden said that his technical defect against the initial movement leads to the slips and continuous edges for the keeper, something that can be avoided by keeping it in the middle order.
Supporting his approach with statistical argument, Hayden insisted that Rahul has shown a strong promise whenever Rahul has played the order. Although Rahul has batted only twice in Test cricket at number 4, he has scored an average of 54.00, which indicates the ability to stability in that role. Rahul also has a good test record in England, with nine matches, scoring an average of 34.11, including two centuries. The Australian Great further said that the situation in English is double-dot.
“Your best player, a part of the security around KL Rahul, is a certain thing in English conditions. Perhaps the best place to bat in England. When the damage is done with a new ball, you can come in and you can just set your stalls. It can be the most difficult place to bat, and when the sun is coming out, you are shiny. ‘I have the important point for me. Hayden concluded.
recently Border-gavaskar trophyRahul scored an average of 276 runs in 10 innings on an average of 30.67, including two half -centuries in the first three tests. However, his form was immersed in the latter part of the series, managing just 41 runs in his last four innings. These ups and downs, together with their struggles against the new ball, make a compelling case to experiment with their batting positions, especially in seaming conditions like Leeds, where the series will begin on June 20.
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