'Want Someone to Discourage Themselves, Tell them to watch KL Rahul Bat': Fans Roast Star Batter After Duleep Trophy Knock

KL Rahul faced the flack of fans on social media after an underwhelming performance with the bat in the ongoing Duleep Trophy. The India batter would be eyeing a spot in the squad for the upcoming 2-match series against Bangladesh at home but his form in the first round of the ongoing domestic red-ball tournament has raised quite a few eyebrows.

Rahul, who is representing India A under the captaincy of Shubman Gill, scored just 37 of 111 balls before being dismissed by Washington Sundar on Day 3 of the game. Rahul’s rusty knock put him under the pump with fans trolling the star batter on social media.

On the other hand, Rishabh Pant fired a counterattacking 61 to help India B extend their lead to 240 runs in the second innings. He stitched a stand of 72 runs off 55 balls for the fourth wicket with Sarfaraz Khan (46 off 36 balls) and went on to get his first fifty on return to red-ball cricket. But with him and Nitish Kumar Reddy falling in the last 30 minutes meant India A got something to smile, even though India B have a big lead in hand now.

Pant, who made just seven in the first innings, began his act by steering and punching Khaleel for back-to-back fours. He survived when his wild hoick went very high and swirled in the air to land in no man’s land off Akash, despite Jurel running all the way to fine leg for the catch.  The wicketkeeper-batter wasn’t done yet, as he hit Kuldeep Yadav for four boundaries, including dancing down the pitch to smash a six over long-on, before getting his fifty in 34 balls.

It is now Pant’s second-fastest fifty in first-class cricket, with his best effort coming against Sri Lanka at this venue in 2022, where he got his half-century in just 28 balls. His entertaining stay at the crease ended when he looked to sweep against off-spinner Tanush Kotian but gave a thick top-edge to diving short fine leg.

(With Agency Inputs)