Team India opener KL Rahul has been going through a tough time in the ongoing 2022 Asia Cup. After bagging a golden duck against Pakistan on Sunday, he again failed to make an impact in the second game. Rahul struggled to get going against Hong Kong on Wednesday, August 31 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. His knock drew a lot of criticism from former cricketers and fans on social media.
The right-handed batter opened the innings for India with skipper Rohit Sharma. While the wicket offered some help for the bowlers, KL Rahul looked out of sorts at the crease. He could not get settled at the crease, playing an intentness knock. The opener slammed a six off a free hit in the third over, but couldn’t continue the momentum.
In his 39-ball stay at the crease, KL Rahul managed just 36 runs at an average of 92.31. His struggle ended in the thirteenth over, when Mohammad Ghazanfar dismissed him off outside off stump delivery. The Indian batter tried a desperate sweep shot, but only managed to under-edge the ball, with the wicket-keeper completing the dismissal.
KL Rahul plays the slowest T20I innings of his career where he has faced 30+ balls 👀 #INDvHK | #AsiaCup2022 pic.twitter.com/FVY1Wo1JSR
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 31, 2022
This year, KL Rahul has not played a lot of cricket at the International level. He led the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League. However, after the tournament, Rahul suffered an injury and was out of action for several weeks. After recovery, he tested positive for covid-19 which delayed his comeback. Since his return to the team, the 30-year-old hasn’t looked at his best.
Let’s take a look at how fans reacted to KL Rahul’s dismissal:
Is there something in the pitch that is not visible. Simply can't fathom this approach especially from KL Rahul. #IndvsHkg
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) August 31, 2022
It was an ordeal that’s just ended for KL Rahul – a real ordeal #INDvHK
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) August 31, 2022
Guess it's time for KL Rahul to smell the coffee, again. Or be told to.
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) August 31, 2022
Yes, the pitch is slow. But 36 in 39 is a bizarre innings from KL Rahul. We've heard so much about India wanting to play a new brand of cricket when it comes to batting. No evidence of that in this tournament.#INDvHK #AsiaCup
— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) August 31, 2022
Hong Kong will be regretting why they got KL Rahul out 💀
— sohom (@AwaaraHoon) August 31, 2022
I am getting the feeling if KL Rahul is not going to change his approach, very soon Pant is going to replace him in future. 👀👀#INDvsHONGKONG #AsiaCupT20
— 𝑺𝒂𝒌𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒎 𝑷𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒍 (@saksh_msdian_07) August 31, 2022
The stat paddler @klrahul
— Gaganabh Pandey (@gaganabh) August 31, 2022
Can't believe that KL Rahul is still allowed to play t20s. #BCCI #AsiaCup2022 #IndvsHkg
— Elliot (@anxietyprime09) August 31, 2022
#IndvsHkg@imVkohli @klrahul pic.twitter.com/zMfIxmLaTI
— Akash Jadhav. (@AkashJa85947231) August 31, 2022
So much talk around the new template only to watch KL Rahul and Virat Kohli bat at run-a-ball. #INDvHK #AsiaCup
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) August 31, 2022
i in KL RAHUL stands for intent
— gurudattaaa (@gurudattaispog) August 31, 2022
Virat Kohli-Suryakumar Yadav’s blazing partnership powers India to 192
Team India batters Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav’s counter-attacking partnership put the team in a great position. They managed to put on 98 runs partnership for the third wicket. Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 59 off 44 deliveries, including a boundary and three sixes.
Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav stole the show with his aggressive knock. He slammed six boundaries and as many sixes to score 68 runs in 26 deliveries. India set Hong Kong a target of 193 runs in 20 overs.
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