IND vs BAN: Ravi Shastri wants KL Rahul to realise his ultimate talent

Ravi Shastri during the on-air commentary expressed his desire to see KL Rahul utilise and realise his ultimate talent. Rahul's place in the Test side was questioned after his early dismissal in 1st innings.

In Short

• KL Rahul scores an unbeaten 22 in India's 2nd innings
• He shares a 53-run stand with centurion Gill to help India declare at 287/4
• Rahul manages only 16 runs from 52 deliveries in 1st innings vs Bangladesh

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri wants KL Rahul to realise how much talent the batter possesses. He felt that Rahul would be a different player altogether the day he came out to bat with that mindset. Shastri was on air and handling the commentary duties when Rahul walked out to bat in the 3rd innings of Day 3 of the 1st Test between India and Bangladesh. However, the batter had a short stay at the crease and managed to score an unbeaten 22 from just 19 balls. India declared their 2nd innings at a total of 287/4 in the 2nd session before tea.

"KL Rahul needs to realise that he has got much of talent. The day he realises that and comes out with a mindset and thinking in that fashion. He will be a different player," Shastri said in on-air commentary. Rahul also completed a milestone of 8000 runs in international cricket for India. Interestingly, he reached the achievement in his 200th appearance for India.

IND vs BAN: Live score and updates

KL Rahul's place in question?

Questions have been raised about KL Rahul's place in the Indian Test side after his early dismissal on Day 1 of the first Test between India and Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. A section of fans were quick to judge Rahul after a disappointing knock when India needed a senior batter to step up and stabilise the first innings. Rahul fell for 16 after a shaky stay of 52 deliveries in the middle.

In the first innings, KL Rahul was caught at short-leg by Zakir Hasan as Bangladesh's off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz took his first wicket of the day on a pitch that had a fair bit of green tinge. Rahul's approach was questioned as he did not look busy in the middle, failing to rotate the strike during is 48-run stand with Yashasvi Jaiswal, who hit his fifth Test fifty.

Can Sarfaraz replace KL?

India lost a well-set Rishabh Pant early in the first innings and the scoring rate dipped with KL Rahul trying to survive rather than put the pressure back on the Bangladesh bowlers. Rahul did not look to unsettle Mehidy, who was happy bowling tidy overs against the senior batter. A section of fans wanted Sarfaraz Khan to make his way into the team instead of KL Rahul.

Sarfaraz replaced KL Rahul in the Test series against England earlier this year. Rahul was battling with injury and Sarfaraz impressed in his first three Test outings. However, in the second innings of the 1st Test against Bangladesh, Rahul looked more confident as he hit four boundaries.