India defeated Sri Lanka in the second ODI of their ongoing series at the Eden Gardens to seal the series with one match to spare. KL Rahul was the match’s star, scoring a mature half-century in a difficult situation in which the team had lost a few wickets.
Rahul scored an unbeaten 64 off 103 balls as India gradually consolidated their position in the second One-Day International at Eden Gardens after they were 86 for four in their chase of Sri Lanka’s 215.
The star batter has recently been batting at number five in the batting order and has done fairly well. This appears to be the Indian team’s new strategy for the wicketkeeper-batter as the World Cup approaches later this year.
Batting at No. 5 has helped me understand my game better: KL Rahul
Rahul has now indicated that skipper Rohit Sharma wants him to be the team’s mainstay at No.5, which will improve his batting in the middle overs while also assisting the wicketkeeper-batter in becoming a better spin bowler.
“Batting at No. 5 has helped me understand my game better. At No. 5, you have to face spin straightaway; I like balls coming onto the bat but Rohit (Sharma) has been pretty clear that he wants me to bat at No. 5, so that’s what I am trying to do,” said Rahul after India won the match by four wickets to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Rahul also enjoys batting at No.5 because it allows him to relax after keeping wickets and not be in a rush to pad up and get ready again. “The good thing about batting at No. 5 is you don’t have to rush. You can take a shower, put your feet up and watch the game. But I always think what team needs of me. If you can read the situation when you go in, it helps you and the team,” Rahul added.
Here is how Twitter reacted to KL Rahul’s innings
First ODI – Played a quickfire cameo for the team.
Second ODI – Finished the game for his team in a tricky run chase.KL Rahul's impressive run with the bat in ODI cricket continues 🔥#KLRahul #India #INDvsSL #Cricket #ODIs pic.twitter.com/rPBwRyKcDF
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) January 12, 2023
Appreciation tweet for KL Rahul. 🙌
Did wicketkeeping for 40 overs and then batted for 35 overs!🔥 #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/GBaQz8TXp7
— Kunal Yadav (@kunaalyaadav) January 12, 2023
KL Rahul batted sensibly to take India to series win. #INDvSL #KLRahul pic.twitter.com/FZU9QsMtEW
— CBTF Speed News (@cbtfspeednews) January 12, 2023
KL Rahul in 2nd ODI match be like🔥
Well played #KLRahul𓃵 💪 pic.twitter.com/cQagOwGarA— Ashutosh Srivastava 🇮🇳 (@sri_ashutosh08) January 12, 2023
KL Rahul Strategy 🥵🤣 pic.twitter.com/i8blE4SK0k
— Pulkit🇮🇳❤️ (@pulkit5Dx) January 12, 2023
Tapasavi Rahul Won 2nd ODI For India .#INDvsSL || #KLRahul𓃵 pic.twitter.com/e4kDC5pkBZ
— Sir BoiesX 🕯 (@BoiesX45) January 12, 2023
KL Rahul said "100% backing from Rohit & Dravid helped me to concentrate a lot".
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 13, 2023
KL Rahul 😁#INDvSL pic.twitter.com/ve25GIAWgi
— RVCJ Media (@RVCJ_FB) January 12, 2023
Well Played KL Rahul 👏🏻👏🏻#INDvSL pic.twitter.com/wSiWuK5RWL
— RVCJ Media (@RVCJ_FB) January 12, 2023
#KLRahul𓃵 a solid nd important knock by KL rahul once a champion🔥 always champion👑😎 pic.twitter.com/d1uL4wVyZM
— Venkateswarlu Mallela (@Venkate54007491) January 12, 2023
Matured. Classic. Perfect
One of the best inning from KL Rahul imo…🔥🔥@klrahul #INDvsSL #KLRahul pic.twitter.com/nniav4Aspy— Jon Snow ।। KL Rahul (@srjrajputt) January 12, 2023
