KL Rahul too precious talent to slot as keeper batsman

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra feels that even though KL Rahul is a better wicket-keeper than legendary Rahul Dravid, the former should not be given duties behind the sticks quite often.

“He is a better keeper than what Dravid was but I would not want him to keep on a regular basis. Keeping takes a toll. He can’t be keeping for 50 overs and then batting higher up the order,” said Aakash Chopra told PTI before the start of the final ODI in Bangalore.

Following Risabh Pant's injury in the recently concluded ODI series against Australia, skipper Virat Kohli vested the responsibility with gloves with the KL Rahul and not surprisingly, he did a pretty good job, which raises a few questions regarding Pant and Sanju Samson’s future. But, Chopra feels that even if Rahul has done a good job with the gloves, it’s doesn’t mean he should keep on a regular basis. He feels that Rahul’s workload will increase and he is too ‘precious a talent’ to use as a keeper batsman on a regular basis.

“If somebody who is that good (with the bat) and if he can do another job, it doesn’t mean that he should keep as well. Rahul is too precious a talent for me to slot in as a keeper,” added the former cricketer.

“Once in a while if he has to keep for the team balance it is okay but in the longer run you have to allow him to score 10000 runs and that won’t happen if he is being asked to keep.”

India will travel to New Zealand for a series consisting of a five-match T20I series, a three-match ODI tourney, followed by two Test matches. The first T20I will be played at the Eden Park, in Auckland, on January 24.