‘KL Rahul saves Team India’: India star hailed as Men in Blue clinch a narrow win in Wellington to go 2-0 up in ODI series originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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KL Rahul’s unbeaten 26 off 38 balls steered India to a four-run DLS win over New Zealand in Wellington.
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India leads the five-match ODI series 2-0 despite Shubman Gill’s golden duck and a top-order wobble.
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Irfan Pathan and a wave of fans hailed Rahul’s composure on a tricky surface.
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India survived a batting collapse to beat New Zealand by four runs under the DLS method in the rain-hit second ODI at Hnry Stadium on Saturday, November 7, and KL Rahul was the man who held the chase together. The wicketkeeper-batter finished unbeaten on 26 off 38 balls, with two fours and two sixes, when rain ended play with India on 113 for 7 after 26 overs.
That left them four runs ahead of the DLS par score of 109 and gave Shubman Gill’s side a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. India chose to bowl first and bowled New Zealand out for 134 in 41 overs, with Gurnoor Brar taking a career-best 4/30 and Daryl Mitchell top-scoring with 55.
The match had already been reduced to 47 overs per side after a one-hour rain delay. The chase of 135 began badly, with Jacob Duffy removing Gill for a golden duck in the second over, before dismissing Kohli for 7 and Naman Dhir for 12.
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Rahul and Shreyas Iyer then added 39 for the next wicket before Kyle Jamieson had Iyer caught off the outside edge for 30. Rahul kept the chase alive at 113 for 7 before the rain arrived once again, ending the contest in India’s favour.
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The result sent supporters straight to Rahul’s innings, and the reactions ranged from sympathy to criticism of the team management.
One fan called the knock match-defining and said, “Once again, KL RAHUL saves Team India from defeat in tough conditions! His unbeaten 26, with 2 maximums and 2 fours on this tricky pitch, was a match-definer, guiding India to a 4-run win.
Meanwhile, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan praised the batter’s temperament on difficult surfaces. “KL Rahul has to be one of the most comfortable Indian batters on difficult overseas pitches. The technique, the composure and the calmness he brings to the crease are simply outstanding. A pleasure to watch him bat,” he said.
Another supporter took a more sympathetic view of the player’s career. “One player I silently admire is KL Rahul. This guy can bat for sure. He is like a man who has so much potential but has not been able to deliver it properly and is now desperately racing against time to prove himself. I want all such guys to win in life,” they said.
A third fan set Rahul’s innings against the captain’s failure. “KL RAHUL THE SAVIOUR OF TEAM INDIA! He stepped up at No. 6 when India needed him the most and rescued the team with a crucial 26 off 38 balls! Meanwhile, Shubman Gill choked under pressure and walked back with a GOLDEN DUCK!” they wrote.
Finally, one more supporter credited Rahul for India’s lead on the DLS table and aimed at the team management. “KL Rahul is the reason India is ahead in that DLS. Management, better stop with this no. 5 experiment now. KL Rahul in SENA should be your no. 5,” they said.
The debate about whether sending Axar patel at No. 5 also remains a major debate for fans. It adds to the wave of questions being raised against the Indian top order.
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The praise for Rahul is deserved. India won by four runs, and his unbeaten 26 was worth more than that margin, with the second six off Duffy turning a nervy chase into a manageable one. He also has a record against this opposition, including his unbeaten 112 off 92 balls at Rajkot in January.
The word “saviour” tells only half the story, however. Brar’s 4/30 and a bowling unit that dismissed New Zealand for 134 set up the win, and it was the rain that ended the contest with 22 runs still needed. Gill’s golden duck is also a single failure and not a verdict on his captaincy.
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The real concern is the top order. Gill, Rohit and Kohli contributed 30 runs between them, and India needed Rahul and the weather to see off a target of 135 on a two-paced surface. With the third ODI in Hamilton on Tuesday, India’s batters must repay the faith their bowlers have shown, because a chase of this size should not depend on one man steadying the ship.
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