Gambhir Supports Struggling KL Rahul, Stresses Social Media Opinions Are Irrelevant

India head coach Gautam Gambhir Wednesday came out in defence of under-fire batter KL Rahul, saying that it's the opinion of the team management and not the criticism on social media that matters. Rahul was dismissed for a duck in the first innings of the opening Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru and made 12 in the second essay as the hosts lost the game by eight wickets. But it seems Gambhir has a long rope in store for him.

"Social media does not matter one bit. What the team management and leadership group thinks is very important. He is batting really well, had a decent knock in Kanpur (against Bangladesh on a difficult wicket)," Gambhir told reporters on the eve of the second Test when asked about Rahul's place in the team. Rahul had managed a 68-run knock in the first innings of the Kanpur Test against Bangladesh.

"He'd be knowing that he has to score big runs and he has the capability of scoring runs. That's why he has been backed by the team.Ultimately, everyone is judged. International cricket is all about being judged," Gambhir added.

However, Sarfaraz Khan's first Test hundred in the first Test has made things much more challenging for Rahul, and the Karnataka man will look to get his act right in the second match should he play. New Zealand are leading the three-match series after taking an eight-wicket win in Bengaluru. It was a humbling experience for the mighty hosts who entered the series after completing a 2-0 sweep of Bangladesh, including winning the Kanpur Test after most of the game went into mere practice due to rain.

"Cricket, sports are a big leveller. If we have enjoyed days like Kanpur we had to endure what happened in Bengaluru. We didn't show any intention to bat out the remainder of the two and a half days," Gambhir said of the defeat in Bengaluru where India were shot for 46 in the first innings, their lowest-ever total at home.