Don’t see any reason...: Rohit backs Rahul amid his Test struggles ahead of Bangladesh series opener

Indian captain Rohit Sharma backed KL Rahul ahead of the first Test versus Bangladesh, starting on September 19 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Rahul is making a return to the Test team after an injury he suffered during the England home seriesearly this year. The right-hander was in good form in 2021 but runs dried up for him from 2022 onwards. While he scored a hundred in the South Africa series, in Johannesburg, and scored a sublime 80 in the first Test versus England, in Hyderabad, he got injured (quadriceps injury) after that to be ruled out. Rohit has backed Rahul prior to the Bangladesh series opener.

Rohit said in a pre-match presser when asked about Rahul's topsy-turvy ride in Tests, "There are a handful of people in world cricket who had a smooth ride. Handful of cricketers had no issues all their life, it was all good. Everyone has an up-and-down career. The best thing to do is to understand yourself, understand expectations from yourself and what do you need to bring to table for the team. The kind of quality KL Rahul has, everybody knows about him. The message to him from our side was we want him to play all the game and bring the best out of him. It’s our duty as well to bring the best out of him."

Hitman further opined, "It’s important to give him a clear message that what he expectfrom you. He has done well since comeback – scored a hundred against South Africa. He scored an 80 in the first Test against England in Hyderabad and unfortunately got injured and didn’t play afterwards."

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Rohit added, "I hope he continues from where he left in Hyderabad. He’s got the game to play spin, seamers so I don’t see any reason why he can’t flourish in Test cricket. Opportunities are there. Important for him to understand how he wants to take his career forward."

Rahul has 2,863 runs in 50 Tests at an average of34.08, including 8 hundreds and 14 half-centuries. He will be eager to get going in whites from the series opener itself, with a hectic Test season ahead for India.