KL Rahul became India’s crisis man after India lost three wickets for just two runs. Batting at no.5, Rahul had to walk out to bat in a hurry in the second over. Rahul had kept wickets for 50 runs in the testing conditions of Chennai and was thinking of getting some rest after taking a shower but the Australian pacers went rampant with the new ball.
Similarly, former Indian skipper Kapil Dev had to get out of the shower early when India lost half the side against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup. Dev went on to score 175 not out to help India post a good total to win the game.
Rahul could not score a big hundred but he remained not out for 97 to guide India to a six-wicket win with 52 balls to spare.
In the post-match presentation, Rahul revealed that he was nowhere ready to go out to bat that early in the innings. “Quite honestly not a lot of conversation, I thought I’d get a good shower and get a break. I was just trying to get my breath back,” the wicketkeeper-batter told the broadcasters.
Rahul revealed that Virat Kohli's advice was to approach it as if he was playing Test cricket.
“Virat said there’s a bit in the wicket, so play like Test cricket for a while. There was a bit of help for the pacers with the new ball, and then the spinners also,” the 32-year-old said.
Rahul said that the wicket got better and Australian bowlers struggled with dew as the game progressed.
“In the last 15-20 overs, dew played a part and that helped quite a bit. The ball also skidded on better. However, it was a bit two-paced, it wasn’t the easiest of wickets to bat on and it wasn’t flat as well. It was a good cricket wicket, bit for the batters and the bowlers. That’s what you get in the south of India, especially Chennai,” he added.
Rahul ended the run chase with a six. He hit the ball too well and could not get to three figures. However, he was not worried about not getting to his century.
“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,” he concluded.
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