At the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, when India lost 4 wickets for 39 runs and the target of 189 runs from Australia was also proving to be a mountain, then KL Rahul played a fighting half-century and won the team.
Image Credit source: BCCI
New Delhi: 12 August 2021, Day 1 of the Lord’s Test. 28 September 2022, the first T20 match between India and South Africa. 17 March 2023, India-Australia’s first ODI match. Three years, three dates and Team India in the field against three different teams. India won all the three matches. The key role in India’s victory in difficult conditions in all three matches was the player who has heard the most criticism about his performance in these 3 years and has been in the most eye- KL Rahul,
On Friday, KL Rahul played such an innings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, which would shut the mouth of everyone who questioned his ability. A few days back, Team India had won the first two Test matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, but as much as these victories were being discussed, Rahul’s form was discussed as much, who failed in both the tests. .
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Demotion in Team India
Then in spite of all the statements and support of captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid, he was hit in the third and fourth tests. First, Rahul was stripped of the vice-captaincy of the Test team. Then he was dropped from the next two tests. Rahul, who was continuously falling down during the same series, did not even get a chance to score runs by playing on a helpful pitch for Ahmedabad’s batting.
Rahul’s battle in Wankhede
After this, when Rahul returned to the team again and got a chance to bat, then the condition of the team was such that hardly anyone had any hope of victory. There was a target of only 189 runs in front but Mitchell Starc destroyed the Indian top order. 4 wickets had fallen for just 39 runs and the 5th was also dismissed on the 83rd. From here, KL Rahul did the work, which was needed not only by Team India, but also by himself.
Rahul batted aggressively along with Ravindra Jadeja and slowly pushed the score forward. Rahul completed his half-century in 73 balls and won an unbeaten 108-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Jadeja.
An excellent knock from @klrahul here in Mumbai when the going got tough!#TeamIndia 22 runs away from victory.
Live – https://t.co/8mvcwAwwah #INDvAUS @mastercardindia pic.twitter.com/Ct4Gq1R1ox
— BCCI (@BCCI) Mar 17, 2023
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Critics also became fans
Even Venkatesh Prasad, who was continuously criticizing Rahul’s failures during the Test series, could not stop himself from praising Rahul. He tweeted and praised him for playing a calm innings in pressure situations.
Excellent composure under pressure and a brilliant innings by KL Rahul. To install Topknock. Great support by Ravindra Jadeja and a good win for India.#INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/tCs74rBiLP
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) Mar 17, 2023
Showed fighting spirit from Lord’s to Thiruvananthapuram
The last few months have apparently not been very good for KL Rahul. Especially in Tests and T20s, he has received more failures and criticisms, while he was doing well in ODIs. Despite this, this was the third time within 3 years, when Rahul made a special contribution in winning India by playing strong innings in difficult conditions. Earlier, on the first day of the Test match against England at Lord’s, Rahul had scored an excellent century while opening in conditions conducive to pacers, which became the basis of India’s victory. Then in the Thiruvananthapuram T20 last year, Kagiso Rabada and Enrique Norkhia of South Africa dropped 2 wickets for 17 runs, after which Rahul scored a slow but unbeaten half-century to take the team to victory.
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