“They will run out of patience with him”

Former cricketer Robin Uthappa believes fans will soon run out of patience with Team India's senior batsman KL Rahul if he has another ordinary series. The 33-year-old performed underwhelmingly in the recently concluded two-match home Test series against South Africa, scoring 68 runs in four innings.

Uthappa opined that despite being a senior member of the Test team, Rahul has to play well to keep his place. He noted that it has been a tough journey for the wicketkeeper batsman so far, considering how many times he has changed his batting position.

Uthappa's comments came during a recent live session on his YouTube channel. He said:

“For whatever reason, KL has had to work through his inconsistencies and mobile positions in this Test team. For me, the fact that he's actually put up those kinds of numbers even (after) how much has changed around him is phenomenal. He's had to endure a lot within Test cricket.

“Even as a senior professional, it leaves him in a position of weakness and that's why acting for his own position, even though he's a senior professional, is important for his own cricket. I'm telling you, one more series of him playing middle series like he's had, that's been a poor one, but one more, and then they'll run out of patience with him.”

Meanwhile, Rahul will lead India in the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa. He was appointed substitute captain, with regular skipper Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer ruled out due to their respective injuries.

---

'They're not a cohesive unit yet' – Robin Uthappa says India's Test team still a work in progress

During the same video, Robin Uthappa also suggested that India's current Test team did not look like a “cohesive unit” during the South Africa series. He felt there was a sense of insecurity among the players about their place in the side.

Uthappa commented on this head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill will have to give consistency to the players. The cricketer turned commentator commented:

“When you look at the squad, even watching it on TV, you can tell they're not a cohesive unit yet; they're a work in progress. They're still finding their feet. There's a lot of uncertainty about his own place, whether or not he'll be there in the next Test match, and what position he'll play.

“You saw that in the past as well, but the generation of players who played was very different from this team. This group of players know how to play cricket in a certain way. They haven't experienced playing cricket in a different way, and that has to be developed in them. This team needs a lot more consistency and a lot more assurance, and I think Gautam and Shubman are the ones who can give this team.”

India is currently ranked fifth in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table. They have played nine games in the cycle and have 52 points along with a percentage of 48.15 points.