India’s star keeper-batter KL Rahul played a magnificent knock of 97 runs in India’s first match at the ongoing World Cup 2023, which was against Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai on Sunday, October 8.
Chasing a target of 200 runs against Australia, the Indian cricket team made an awful start as Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer bagged ducks and the team was reduced to 2/3. However, run-machine Virat Kohli joined forces with KL Rahul and together they saved India from an embarrassing defeat.
In the end, Virat Kohli, who scored 85 runs, was dismissed but KL Rahul remained unbeaten and guided his team to a 6-wicket win. He played a magnificent knock of 97 runs off 115 balls, with 8 fours and 2 sixes for the win.
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As India clinched an amazing win, social media was buzzing with amazing reactions from the fans to the amazing knock played by KL Rahul. From cricketers and experts to fans, everyone took to social media and hailed KL for his terrific performance.
Just like his million fans, KL Rahul’s wife and Bollywood actress Athiya Shetty also took to her Instagram and penned a heartfelt post for her husband. She wrote: “Best guy ever” along with a red heart emoji.
Check out her story:
Later, after collecting his Player of the Match award, KL Rahul said that he didn’t have a lot of conversation with Virat Kohli after he joined him in the middle when India was reeling at 2/3. He revealed that Kohli had advised him to play the game like Test cricket. He revealed:
“(On walking out at 2/3) Quite honestly not a lot of conversation, I thought I’d get a good shower and get a break. I was just trying to get my breath back. Virat said there’s a bit in the wicket, so play like Test cricket for a while. There was a bit of help for the pacers with the new ball, and then the spinners also. In the last 15-20 overs, dew played a part and that helped quite a bit.”
He added: “The ball also skidded on better. However, it was a bit two-paced, it wasn’t the easiest of wickets to bat on and it wasn’t flat as well. It was a good cricket wicket, bit for the batters and the bowlers. That’s what you get in the south of India, especially Chennai.”
