Former wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel recently discussed how KL Rahul of Team India encountered numerous challenges in the recent past due to a thigh injury he sustained. Following a thigh injury during IPL 2023, Rahul was sidelined for several months.
Complimenting Rahul for his remarkable return, Patel emphasized that his mental strength played a pivotal role in turning things around. Rahul delivered an outstanding batting performance in India’s opening match of the 2023 World Cup against Australia in Chennai on Sunday.
KL Rahul stepped up to bat when the Indian team was in a difficult situation, with the score at 2/3 during their pursuit of a 200-run target. He displayed great resilience and composure, finishing unbeaten on 97, leading his team to a crucial six-wicket victory.
In a conversation on Cricbuzz, Parthiv Patel made the following comment (0:11) about Rahul’s performance:
“Look at those runs after making a comeback. He went through a lot of turmoil in his career. The injury came in at a very wrong time. But he worked really hard and has never looked back after that. That hundred against Pakistan was very crucial, and he has been consistent after that.”
“Today’s knock is another testimony to why everyone talks about him so highly. His timing was so good. Even on this difficult, slow wicket, he was timing it brilliantly. His mental strength was key for me,” he added.
India was in a commanding position thanks to the 165-run partnership between Virat Kohli and KL Rahul for the fourth wicket, rescuing them from a poor start. Rahul, with an unbeaten 97, guided the team to victory, while Kohli was dismissed after making 85 runs.
“Nothing wrong with it” – Parthiv Patel discussing KL Rahul’s intent for reaching a century
With India needing five runs to win, KL Rahul attempted to score a four and a six to reach his century. However, his shot to get a four off Pat Cummins ended up being perfectly timed, and the ball sailed beyond the boundary for a six.
Parthiv Patel believed that KL Rahul was entirely justified in his attempt to reach a century. Patel expressed that Rahul deserved to achieve this milestone as he had already secured a victory for the team at that point. He mentioned this at the 13:45 mark:
“He should be really proud of the kind of innings he played. It was mathematically possible to get that hundred, and he was trying that. You think about hundreds when you have put your team in a position from where you can’t lose. He had done that. If you are thinking about going for your hundred after that, there is nothing wrong with it.”
KL Rahul was awarded the Player of the Match for his crucial performance. India currently occupies the fifth position in the 2023 World Cup standings with a net run rate of 0.883.
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