How many times have you seen a batter looking despondent after having just driven his team to a victory in a world cup match and that too by clobbering a six?
KL Rahul played an inside-out shot over extra covers off Pat Cummins to direct the ball over the boundary for a six – a shot that sealed India’s six-wicket win over Australia in their ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 opener, played in Chennai.
But immediately when the camera focused on Rahul, he looked shocked as the six delivered a defeat, not a win.
Why?
India needed five runs to win and Rahul planned to hit a four and a six to try and get to his century. Well, his only ‘fault’ was that he ended up timing the ball too well.
KL Rahul:Why I hit SIX to win this gameMissed 100 by 3.@mukund pic.twitter.com/0hOvwDhgw9— Karam (@KaramDhanoa1) October 8, 2023
The shock quickly gave way to a wry smile and it dissolved into happiness of having played a vital role of guiding India out of trouble to a relatively comfortable win.
“I hit it too well, I just calculated how to get to a 100 in the end. The only way was a four and a six, but no qualms on not getting to that hundred,” Rahul said after picking up his player-of-the-match award.
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India were reduced to 2/3 in 2 overs by Australia pacers in the chase of 200 at the Chepauk before Virat Kohli and KL Rahul stitched a century stand that put India on course.
The pair added 165 runs for the fourth wicket with Kohli exiting after having made 85 off 16 with the help of six fours.
Rahul hit an unbeaten 97 off 125 with eight fours and a couple of sixes.
Australia opted to bat first and lost opener Mitchell Marsh for a six-ball duck. David Warner and Steve Smith though struck a good partnership but once the format departed, India spinners took control.
Australia were bowled out for 199 in 49.3 overs.
India next face Afghanistan in Delhi on Wednesday.
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