IND vs SA 2022: "50 par all-out hojao par Rahul jaisa mat khelo"- Despite India's win, fans question KL Rahul's intent for another slow knock 

​

India's vice-captain KL Rahul remained unbeaten on 51*(56) as the Men in Blue comfortably beat the Proteas by eight wickets on Wednesday (September 28) in Thiruvananthapuram. However, Rahul's knock wasn't the most pleasing to the eye as he struggled for the best part of his innings.

Suryakumar Yadav, on the other hand, played a ridiculously good knock, bringing up his half-century in just 33 balls. It was almost like Yadav took away all the pressure from Rahul and helped the latter play with freedom towards the end of the innings.

Fans on Twitter slammed KL Rahul for his uncharacteristic knock and for also showing a lack of intent, especially when 'SKY' went all guns blazing at the other end.

Here are some of the reactions:

​

Manya

@CSKian716

KL hits a 6 and gets to his 50 to once again prove that he has the capability to pull off these shots but he just doesn't want to.

153

9

KL hits a 6 and gets to his 50 to once again prove that he has the capability to pull off these shots but he just doesn't want to.

Silly Point

@FarziCricketer

Nothing motivates KL Rahul like his batting partner reaching a milestone before him.

2565

138

Nothing motivates KL Rahul like his batting partner reaching a milestone before him.

ANSHUMAN🚩

@AvengerReturns

For the first time Every Indian knew that KL Rahul is going to hit a six rather than taking a single 🤣🤣🤣

1704

150

For the first time Every Indian knew that KL Rahul is going to hit a six rather than taking a single 🤣🤣🤣

Madhurima

@worn_out1

KL Rahul has the talent of AB de Villiers but ends up playing like Temba Bavuma. #INDvsSA

8

KL Rahul has the talent of AB de Villiers but ends up playing like Temba Bavuma. #INDvsSA

Saurav Anand

@imSauravAnand07

Rahul bhai kab suru karoge marna? 21th overs se
#INDvSA

7

Rahul bhai kab suru karoge marna? 21th overs se 😒😒
#INDvSA

Sagar

@SagarW_2002

Kaise introduce karaoge apne baccho ko cricket se agar kl jaise bande khel rahe honge

7

2

Kaise introduce karaoge apne baccho ko cricket se agar kl jaise bande khel rahe honge

arfan

@Im__Arfan

First session done , KL marching ahead strong

479

18

First session done , KL marching ahead strong

Weirdly_Gripping

@WeirdlyGripping

This inning of KL Rahul reminding me of Yuvi's Pakistan knock in Asia Cup 2016..
He was struggling but still middled few glorious shots...
Here KL is like cat on hot tin roof, hardly connecting any...
Yuvi was past his prime, KL is supposedly in pRiMe.
#INDvsSA
#SAvsIND

30

1

This inning of KL Rahul reminding me of Yuvi's Pakistan knock in Asia Cup 2016..
He was struggling but still middled few glorious shots...
Here KL is like cat on hot tin roof, hardly connecting any...
Yuvi was past his prime, KL is supposedly in pRiMe.
#INDvsSA
#SAvsIND

Tanay

@tanay_chawda1

South African Team Secret Revealed- “Don’t take Wicket of KL rahul”

#INDvsSA

277

11

South African Team Secret Revealed- “Don’t take Wicket of KL rahul”

#INDvsSA

Ctrl C Ctrl Memes 45

@Ctrlmemes_

#INDvsSA

Whenever I see players like KL Rahul, i miss Sehwag more, he never was afraid of smashing to swing delivery.

16

1

#INDvsSA

Whenever I see players like KL Rahul, i miss Sehwag more, he never was afraid of smashing to swing delivery. https://t.co/7NiyQ9HMo8

Rohit Jadhav

@_jadhavrohit

Harsha Bhogle : The curious case of KL Rahul, cant bat in UAE, cant bat in Zimbabwe, cant bat in India now.

Savage 🤣🤣

#INDvsSA #INDvSA @klrahul @bhogleharsha

1576

107

Harsha Bhogle : The curious case of KL Rahul, cant bat in UAE, cant bat in Zimbabwe, cant bat in India now.

Savage 🤣🤣

#INDvsSA #INDvSA @klrahul @bhogleharsha

Laksh Sharma

@im_laksh_18

50 pr All out ho jao lekin Rahul jaisa mat khelo.

5

1

50 pr All out ho jao lekin Rahul jaisa mat khelo.

Udit

@udit_buch

KL Rahul batting slower than the time it takes to type Thiruvananthapuram

174

15

KL Rahul batting slower than the time it takes to type Thiruvananthapuram

Prasanjit

@Prasanj19782888

Drop KL Rahul and save Indian team
Played 5 dots ball and took single on last ball #INDvsSA

6

2

Drop KL Rahul and save Indian team
Played 5 dots ball and took single on last ball #INDvsSA

Kaygee18

@Kaygee1803

Surya and Rahul have the same score

Rahul has faced 27 balls and Surya has faced 5 balls

45

2

Surya and Rahul have the same score

Rahul has faced 27 balls and Surya has faced 5 balls

Silly Point

@FarziCricketer

That was definitely out! Umpire being Suniel Shetty fan saved KL Rahul.

1962

62

That was definitely out! Umpire being Suniel Shetty fan saved KL Rahul.

---

KL Rahul scored just 11 runs off 26 balls in the powerplay

Although India needed just 107 runs to win the game, they didn't get an explosive start from captain Rohit Sharma as he departed for a duck. Virat Kohli came to the crease and tried to attack, but most of the deliveries in the powerplay (26) were played by KL Rahul.

The opener found it very difficult to get to terms with the two-paced track and the variable bounce. The pressure built on Kohli and even he departed, leaving India in a spot of bother in the seventh over with just 17 runs on the board.

However, Suryakumar Yadav, as he often does, walked out to bat and changed the complexion of the chase. He smashed two sixes off Anrich Nortje and lifted the tempo of the run-scoring. Slowly but surely, even Rahul began to play his shots and made up for the slow start.

In the end, both batters brought up their half-centuries and it was a comfortable win for the hosts. Whether Rahul's innings was just a one-off or a serious concern, is something only time will tell.

​