Former India cricketer and batting coach Sanjay Bangar believes KL Rahul, one of India's most prolific batters of this time, might not be part of the country's playing XI in the 50-over format, a statement which might raise questions over the possibility of the man playing in the World Cup scheduled at home later this year.
The 50-year-old Bangar, who has played 12 Tests and 15 one-day internationals for India in the early 2000s, is of the opinion that ace all-rounder Hardik Pandya has gone ahead of Rahul in the race to become India's next captain in the limited overs.
Pandya will lead India in the three-match T20 series against Sri Lanka at home starting Tuesday (3) and be the deputy of Rohit Sharma in the three-match one-day international series that follows the T20s. Rahul, on the other hand, will not play the T20s but features in the 50-over squad.
Speaking on 'The Cricinfo Show' on Star Sports, Bangar was asked whether the development means the Baroda all-rounder has overtaken Rahul as India's next white-ball captain.
He said in response, "Taking into account the kind of success that Ishan Kishan has had at the top of the order which means KL Rahul will have to fight for a place in the playing XI, and hence I feel that KL Rahul may not be part of the playing XI in 50-over cricket at the moment."
Bangar, who served as India's batting coach between 2014 and 2019 and saw the team reaching heights during his tenure, thinks Pandya's title-winning feat in the Indian Premier League last year has made him one of the prime contenders to become India's limited-over captain succeeding Sharma.
"Hardik Pandya's career graph as far as his captaincy is concerned is pretty good because the way he led his team to the IPL championship was fabulous. So it meant in the longer run he is going to be a strong contender to take over the reins from Rohit Sharma whenever the situation arises," Bangar, who has one international Test century, said.
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