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Shoaib Akhtar praises star India batter. (Source: Twitter)
India defeated Australia by six wickets in their opening game of the ODI World Cup 2023, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul played a knock under pressure and made sure to take India off the target of 200 runs. India was struggling at one stage with three batters Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Shreyas Iyer went back to the pavilion without scoring. And India was struggling at 2/3.
Kohli and Rahul played one of their best knocks of the World Cup, in Chennai on Sunday. The two batters took their time and played with composure without taking any kind of risks. They stitched a 165-run stand for the 4th wicket. Kohli once again proved why he is the best batter in the world when it comes to run chases.
The former India skipper scored 85 runs off 116 balls before being dismissed by Josh Hazelwood. India required 30-odd runs when he got out. Rahul on the other hand again proved his critics wrong as he was unbeaten till the end of the game with a score of 97 runs and finished the game off in style with a six. Kohli got a lot of praise for his knock. But former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar believes that Rahul's performance should be equally praised considering he also kept wickets in the first innings.
The way KL Rahul asserted his authority, he looks to be in a different league: Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib said on his YouTube channel, "The way KL Rahul asserted his authority, he looks to be in a different league. Virat Kohli played a great innings but he could not play a chanceless innings. When KL Rahul was batting, he did not give any chance throughout his innings."
"Rahul hit shots when it was needed, and soaked in pressure with the situation of the game was tough. Virat Kohli's dropped catch was the turning point yes, but KL Rahul giving stability was crucial. You play him at any number - in the middle order, and opening, he does well. Don't forget that he kept wickets as well just before this for 50 overs," Akhtar asserted.
"People laud Virat Kohli for his fitness and his running between the wickets, but KL Rahul is running with him too and also after keeping wickets and that needs to be talked about. KL Rahul is a complete player and needs to be backed throughout," he further said.