“He is ideal to replace or take over” - Ex-Indian cricketer reveals Virat Kohli’s ‘ideal’ replacement for England tour

Former BCCI selection committee member Saba Karim feels that KL Rahul is the ideal choice to replace Virat Kohli at No.4 in the Indian batting line-up for the England tour, scheduled to start on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds.

Notably, with Kohli and Rohit Sharma announcing their retirement from the longest format of the game, there has been a void in the Indian XI to fill their batting spots. However, Saba Karim feels the absence of Kohli presents a monumental opportunity to Rahul.

"Well, in the absence of Kohli, Rahul's role is monumental. And I look at him, as a batter who can bat a number four. Many people have suggested different batting positions, but I feel that KL is ideal to replace or take over, the role of Virat Kohli at number four, because that number four, he can play a dual role of negotiating the early setback if that happens in the Indian side, and then he can carry the innings forward. He does have the right kind of technique. He has done well in England," Saba Karim told NDTV.

Furthermore, the former Indian cricketer also reckoned that there has been a lot of maturity that has come into Rahul in the past season and a half. 

"He has a temperament. And I think with the past season, season and a half, there is a lot of maturity that has come in. So I think that's the kind of responsibility with Indian team management,” he added.

Rahul, who was also part of the second unofficial Test for India A side against England Lions, smacked 116 runs as an opening batter. The Indian batter, who played 58 Tests, has amassed 3527 runs at an average of 33.57.

Furthermore, Karim also talked about the comeback batter Karun Nair, who has been included in the Indian Test squad after he put up impressive domestic performances for the Vidarbha side across all three formats.

"It is not going to be easy because things have changed. The game itself has evolved. Strategies have evolved. So for someone who's making a comeback after so many years, he will need a lot of backing from the Indian side to do well in England. Experience of playing domestic cricket, experience of scoring tons of runs in domestic cricket and also on this, a couple of matches that India played, from a couple of practice matches that India played, all that should come in handy,” he observed.

"He has experience of playing county cricket. So if he can remain in that kind of a zone, then I think both these lads from Bangalore, should be extremely useful for India's chances," he concluded.

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