KL Rahul emerged as the highest scorer for the Indian cricket team in the Cricket World Cup final against Australia, securing 66 runs off 107 deliveries, including a single four. Despite his significant contribution, the pace of Rahul’s innings raised questions, especially considering the slow nature of the pitch and frequent dismissals at the other end. Following India’s loss to Australia in Ahmedabad on Sunday, discussions surrounding Rahul’s performance have been prevalent.
Former Pakistani cricket team pacer, Mohammad Amir, expressed the opinion that KL Rahul’s innings exerted pressure on Virat Kohli, the sole other half-centurion for India in the final. Kohli, who started with three fours, faced challenges due to the slow pitch. Rohit Sharma, the Indian cricket team captain, contributed 47 runs off 32 balls, displaying aggression early on a pitch that initially appeared sluggish.
Amir highlighted three turning points in the match, emphasizing the impact of key moments. He particularly questioned Rahul’s unusually slow innings, suggesting it created additional pressure on Kohli. Amir emphasized that Rahul is not known for playing at a slow pace, and this deviation affected the team’s dynamics negatively.
Shoaib Malik, another former Pakistani player, echoed the sentiment that KL Rahul’s slow innings and poor strike rate in the middle-order played a crucial role in India’s defeat. Malik suggested that Rahul, aiming to bat through the 50 overs, should have adapted his approach based on the challenging conditions. Emphasizing the importance of rotating the strike, Malik noted the excessive number of dot balls, indicating a lack of proactive gameplay. Overall, both Amir and Malik asserted that Rahul’s uncharacteristic innings had significant consequences for India in the Cricket World Cup final.
