"Now we know what KL Rahul is about" - Former cricketer's candid take on another inconsistent series for Indian batter in BGT 2024-25

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar reckons that KL Rahul's performance in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy was on rather expected lines. He said the right-hander looked India's most compact batter in the first half of the series but added that his inability to perform consistently was on show again in the latter half.

In 10 innings in BGT 2024-25, Rahul scored 276 runs at an average of 30.66, with two fifties to his name. The 32-year-old scored a resolute 77 in the second innings of the Perth Test. He hit 84 in the first innings in Brisbane but ended the series with four failures.

During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Manjrekar said Rahul seems to have made it a habit of performing in a particular manner, wherein he starts well and then completely tapers off. The former India batter commented:

"I think now we know what KL Rahul is about. We were talking about him being India's best batter at the start of the series. He looked so compact, then got that 80 in Brisbane as well. We thought this might just change his career in the right direction. Then you saw the failures again."

Despite Rahul having yet another mixed series with the willow, Manjrekar believes the Karnataka batter will be retained for the Test series in England. According to the 59-year-old, India do not have too many options when it comes to batting at the top of the order. He stated:

"I don't see him being left out for England considering that India still are looking for an opener. They don't want to go to [Abhimanyu] Easwaran and KL Rahul, the last time he was there, played well. So, I see that opening combination continuing, unless Rohit Sharma comes in and throws spanner in the works."

Rahul has now featured in 58 Test matches and has scored 3,257 runs at an average of 33.57, with eight hundreds and 17 fifties to his credit.

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"Big gain for India" - Sanjay Manjrekar on Yashasvi Jaiswal's performance in BGT 2024-25

While Rahul had a mixed time, his opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal was among the few positives for India with the willow in BGT 2024-25. Reflecting on the youngster's impressive performance, Manjrekar described it as a big gain for India.

"Incredible. Also, overcoming the Mitchell Starc problem with that swinging ball. He was really the greatest news to come through. Top of the order against that kind of an attack on helpful pitches, to have two scores of 80 and a 160 was tremendous. Big gain for India," the former Mumbai cricketer told ESPNcricinfo.

In five Tests, Jaiswal totaled 391 runs at an average of 43.44, with one century and two half-centuries to his name. The left-hander scored 161 in the second innings in Perth and contributed 82 & 84 in Melbourne.