[WATCH]- KL Rahul Receives Loud Cheers In Karnataka vs Haryana Ranji Trophy Clash

Team India batter KL Rahul made his Ranji Trophy return after five years on Thursday, January 30. He received a warm reception from the crowd as he walked out to bat for Karnataka against Haryana at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Fans enthusiastically cheered and chanted Rahul’s name as he made his way to the crease. He came in at No. 3 after opener Aneesh KV was dismissed for 17 runs, following Haryana’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss.

Rahul’s grand welcome at his home ground highlights his immense popularity and strong fan following, even in domestic cricket. You can watch the video here:

THE RECEPTION FOR KL RAHUL AT HIS HOME GROUND 📢

– Rahul returning to Ranji after 5 years. pic.twitter.com/4NlxpwC6RX

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 30, 2025

KL Rahul Falls Short on Runs in Ranji Trophy Comeback at Home Ground

KL Rahul made a steady start after coming in at No. 3 for Karnataka in their ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25 match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. However, he couldn’t build on his start and was dismissed for 26 runs off 37 balls, which included four boundaries. The 32-year-old fell to Haryana’s Anshul Kamboj.

KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal added 54 runs before Rahul’s dismissal, followed by a 62-run stand between Mayank and Devdutt Padikkal. Mayank, after hitting three sixes and eight boundaries, fell for 91 to Anuj Thakral. Ravichandran Smaran then joined Padikkal post-lunch.

Meanwhile, Rahul will be eager to make a stronger impact in the second innings. KL Rahul is one of several high-profile players returning to the Ranji Trophy after the BCCI mandated participation in domestic cricket.

The Indian batter last featured in the Ranji Trophy five years ago. He had a mixed performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 series, starting strong but finishing with 276 runs in five matches at an average of 30.66, including just two half-centuries.

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