KL Rahul Delivered Team India Comeback Blow: "He Had Opportunity, Let It Go"

Is there still hope for KL Rahul's return to India's T20I side? Former India batter Aakash Chopra doesn't think so. The competition in India's T20I team is arguably the toughest for the two opening spots. The current situation is such that even a generational talent like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi isn't able to bag a spot in the playing XI. While there's no denying that Rahul remains one of India's most sought-after batters, Chopra doesn't think there's any chance he can make a comeback to the national team in the shortest format.

Rahul last played for India in T20Is in 2022 and has since been sidelined. Even though he has altered his brand of cricket, playing a more attacking style over the last couple of years, he hasn't been able to get a recall to the national team in T20Is. Chopra feels his opportunity of a return has already passed.

"There was a time when he had a chance, but he let go of his opportunity. Now someone else has taken that place. I won't say at all that KL Rahul can't bat at that speed. If a guy can score 150 runs off 50-odd balls, he can bat like that when he wishes," he said in a video on his YouTube channel.

"However, I don't think the Indian team is going to move towards him now. KL Rahul is a very, very important player in Tests and ODIs. In fact, he has now become the vice-captain in Tests, but I don't feel India would look towards him from a T20I cricket perspective," he observed.

Assessing the current situation in the Indian team, Chopra highlighted how tough the competition at the top is. While he is convinced that Rahul can bat at a higher speed than before, there is no way for Rahul to win a spot in the team considering the sort of players he is competing with.

"Tell me how KL Rahul would get a chance in T20 cricket and in place of whom. He is not a middle-order batter in T20 cricket. He is an opener, and we are unable to give a chance to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as an opener," he said.

"You have Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, and Vaibhav. These four people are there, and the entire country is asking why Vaibhav isn't being played and when he will be played. How will KL Rahul play in that? Just think about it. This is not going to happen," Chopra asserted.

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