Is Team India struggling with KL Rahul's batting position as opener or middle-order? Ajit Agarkar comments

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Wicketkeeper-opener KL Rahul has been in some fine form of late, especially in the limited-overs circuit. However, Team India seems to be confused with his batting position. While he is ideally an opener, the two slots being taken up by skipper Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan has pushed Rahul to the middle-order, as former Indian pacer Ajit Agarkar feels that the team should solve this problem.

Speaking to Star Sports, Agarkar reckoned that the team should decide whether to play him as an opener or middle-order. He stated that he was not impressed with Rahul opening in South Africa, as he has good experience batting at number four and five. He feels that the team should focus on his success in those positions, as he has impacted in the same before.

"If that is not going to be the case, then again, you have got to stick to what you decide. If you are going to be an opener, you may as well open the innings with Rohit in the series. So, that will be interesting to see because Shikhar Dhawan is there as well, I am not sure in a year or year and a half's time where Shikhar Dhawan would be, even though he has got runs in South Africa," Agarkar commented.

Rahul has been in severe form in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the past couple of seasons, scoring top runs as an opener. However, Agarkar feels that Rahul as an opener will not work perfectly in the long-term future. "You have got a couple of explosive players like Ishan Kishan or even someone like Rishabh Pant. Who knows whether it will work giving him a chance for the top of the order," he considered.