Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik has heaped praise on KL Rahul for his impressive performances in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Karthik called Rahul the "ideal opener" for India, especially in challenging overseas conditions, and urged the team management to continue backing him. He also emphasized the importance of appreciating Rahul’s contributions rather than being overly critical during tough times.

Speaking on Cricbuzz, Karthik highlighted Rahul’s often underappreciated value in Test cricket, particularly when playing away from home. He pointed out that the Indian team must avoid short memories and continue supporting Rahul even after occasional failures.

"I believe, in KL Rahul, we have the opener that India needs. I hope they continue to back him. If, within the next year, there's a series where he has a couple of low scores, I hope people don’t have a short memory. We need to appreciate what he has done and what he is doing today," Karthik said.

The 32-year-old Rahul, a right-handed batter from Karnataka, has been India’s leading run-scorer in the ongoing series, with 235 runs in six innings. His scores of 26, 77, 37, 7, 84, and an unbeaten 4* have demonstrated his ability to handle Australia’s potent pace attack.

Karthik also defended Rahul’s consistency, urging fans to recognize the opener’s potential beyond mere averages. "People always complain about his consistency; I don't want to use that word. But he takes it upon himself. His average shows that. But he is far better than that," Karthik added.

According to Karthik, Rahul’s proven track record overseas makes him one of the first names to be included in any Indian squad touring abroad. "If you take any Indian team planning to tour abroad, he will be one of the first names on that list because you know exactly what you will get from him,” he concluded.