Star Indian batsman KL Rahul delivered a magnificent unbeaten 97 runs during India’s commanding six-wicket victory against Australia in their opening match of the 2023 ODI World Cup at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium.Â
India found themselves in a dire situation, standing at 2/3, with openers Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Shreyas Iyer all dismissed without scoring. It was at this juncture that Rahul partnered with Virat Kohli to turn the tide.
Both batsmen displayed composure in the middle, dealt with the Australian challenge sensibly, and reassured Indian fans by steadily progressing in the chase. Kohli and Rahul efficiently capitalized on loose deliveries, but their standout feature during this partnership was their exceptional running between the wickets, consistently turning singles into twos.
Their partnership of 165 runs is now the top-scoring fourth-wicket alliance for India in ODI World Cups. Despite his excellent performance, Kohli fell just short of a century, getting caught at short mid-wicket with a score of 85.
However, Rahul maintained his composure and stayed unbeaten at 97* to guide India to a comfortable six-wicket victory with 52 balls to spare. Rahul’s match-winning innings made him just the second Indian player to stay in the 90s in an ICC Men’s ODI World Cup match, with MS Dhoni being the first to do so with his iconic 91* against Sri Lanka.
Notably, there are several noteworthy resemblances between these two exceptional innings. Here are three notable similarities:
#3 Both served as wicketkeepers and batted at No. 5
KL Rahul transitioned from being primarily a batter to becoming India’s main wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs, emphasizing his commitment to developing wicketkeeping skills.
He continued in this role in India’s World Cup opener against Australia. It’s worth noting that Dhoni also served as the designated wicketkeeper in the 2011 ODI World Cup final versus Sri Lanka. Both players occupied the No. 5 batting position. While Rahul has consistently batted at No. 5, Dhoni occasionally adjusted his position to face Sri Lanka’s spin bowlers.
#2 Both centuries were scored in successful ODI World Cup run-chases
Both KL Rahul and MS Dhoni delivered under extreme pressure, rescuing their teams from dire situations. While Rahul’s unbeaten 97* occurred in India’s World Cup opener, Dhoni’s memorable 91* took place on the grandest stage in the 2011 World Cup final. The pressure on Dhoni in that summit clash can only be imagined.
Nonetheless, both Rahul and Dhoni masterfully orchestrated these run-chases. It’s worth highlighting that the successful chases might not have been possible without the presence of two Delhi-born match-winners alongside them. Dhoni had Gautam Gambhir, a superb No. 3 batter who scored 97. Rahul, on the other hand, had the company of Virat Kohli, who also batted at No. 3 and contributed an 85-ball 85.
#1 Both concluded their matches with a six
Lastly, the most remarkable commonality between these two innings is that they both sealed India’s victory with a game-winning six.
Intriguingly, one batter delivered a powerful slog to secure the victory, while the other, although not intending to hit a six, timed the ball so perfectly that it cleared the boundary. During India’s 2011 World Cup final, Dhoni’s iconic hit over long-on was a six that made them ODI world champions after 28 years.
On the other hand, Rahul found himself at 91* in the 42nd over, with India requiring just five runs to beat Australia in the 2023 World Cup. With the game firmly in India’s grasp, Rahul aimed for a century. To achieve this milestone before India’s chase was completed, he needed to hit a four and then a six.
However, in his attempt to drive the ball over cover for four off Pat Cummins, Rahul struck it so well that it sailed over the boundary for a six, sealing the match and leaving him unbeaten on 97.
Both Rahul’s 97* and Dhoni’s 91* are incredibly valuable, akin to centuries. While Dhoni’s magnificent performance secured India’s World Cup victory, India hopes that Rahul’s strong start in the 2023 ODI World Cup will help them end their ODI World Cup drought.
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