IND vs ZIM 2022: "This is why he was scared of batting first" - Fans troll 'selfish' KL Rahul for failure on comeback

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KL Rahul's ploy to promote himself didn't work in the second ODI. (P.C.:Twitter)

Stand-in captain KL Rahul didn't make a memorable return to international cricket with just a solitary run off five balls in the second ODI of India's three-match series against Zimbabwe on Saturday.

The 30-year-old had promoted himself to the top of the order alongside Shikhar Dhawan to get some game-time with the bat before the Asia Cup. However, the move didn't materialize well as Rahul missed a flick on an inswinger from Victor Nyauchi and was stone dead.

With every single failure, the pressure on Rahul's place in the T20 World Cup squad will only increase as the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan have been impressive at the top of the order while the opener was injured.

Fans on Twitter slammed KL Rahul for his 'selfish' decision to disrupt a stable opening partnership between Shubman Gill and Shikhar Dhawan. Some also trolled him for his failure with the bat.

Here are some of the reactions:

Turnip cakes.

@fakepanjabi

KL rahul epitomy of shamelesness. Chose to bowl first then opened in place of Shubman.

20

8

KL rahul epitomy of shamelesness. Chose to bowl first then opened in place of Shubman.

✨

@greenysoulin

KL Rahul is an overated player.

14

KL Rahul is an overated player.

Shubmoun bill Popa 🤴🌈

@69popa_

Whole world wants to him to score century except for Zimbabwean team and KL Rahul. #ZIMvIND

20

3

Whole world wants to him to score century except for Zimbabwean team and KL Rahul. #ZIMvIND https://t.co/KICTUyTqIn

Nayeem // 77 era

@nay25m

Kl Rahul vs shubman gill's performance against Pakistan in U19 wc, choose your idol wisely

25

6

Kl Rahul vs shubman gill's performance against Pakistan in U19 wc, choose your idol wisely 👍 https://t.co/RZ3NAw4cXu

Karan

@karannpatelll

KL is one of the worst ODI opener. He is in same category with Imam.

9

KL is one of the worst ODI opener. He is in same category with Imam.

YouAreWrong

@huihui_____

Thanks KL for bringing some masala for tl

22

4

Thanks KL for bringing some masala for tl

Archer

@poserarcher

Oh I missed it ..captain KL comes to open and gets out for one? Nice batting practice

2

Oh I missed it ..captain KL comes to open and gets out for one? Nice batting practice

ARYAN_OP™

@ARYAN__OP

Again telling Kl has to be given extended rest till T20 world cup ends twitter.com/CricCrazyJohns…

Johns.

@CricCrazyJohns

KL Rahul dismissed for 1 and India 5 for 1.

1

44

KL Rahul dismissed for 1 and India 5 for 1.

Again telling Kl has to be given extended rest till T20 world cup ends twitter.com/CricCrazyJohns…

Ashutosh😼

@IAshutoshMittal

Good that their is Zimbabwe series b4 Asia Cup,warna waha par yehi hota Rahul ke saath

5

1

Good that their is Zimbabwe series b4 Asia Cup,warna waha par yehi hota Rahul ke saath

ख़ुराफ़ाती

@khurafatijaat

Subhuman Gill and Dhawan single handedly ensured India’s win in the last match so selfish player KL Rahul came to open this innings 🤪 #ZIMvIND

2

Subhuman Gill and Dhawan single handedly ensured India’s win in the last match so selfish player KL Rahul came to open this innings 😂😂😜😜🤪 #ZIMvIND

𓃵 Ctrl C + Ctrl Memes 45

@Ctrlmemes_

Rule out KL Rahul from Asia cup and replace him with Ishan Kishan ASAP

15

4

Rule out KL Rahul from Asia cup and replace him with Ishan Kishan ASAP

𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔

@Shebas_10dulkar

KL Rahul - 1 (5)

This is lowest ODI Score by an Indian Captain in Zimbabwe

#ZIMvIND

277

21

KL Rahul - 1 (5)

This is lowest ODI Score by an Indian Captain in Zimbabwe

#ZIMvIND

𝐊𝒖𝑙ᴅ𝗶𝗉 🐟

@not_dhoni

Woohoo!

KL Rahul in the pavallion 🥺 twitter.com/kunaalyaadav/s…

Kunal Yadav

@kunaalyaadav

Woohoo! 🤩

KL Rahul at the crease! 🥺

5

1

Woohoo! 🤩

KL Rahul at the crease! 🥺❤️

Woohoo!

KL Rahul in the pavallion 🥺❤️ twitter.com/kunaalyaadav/s…

Mohit

@Mohittweets13

Kl should make him injured again for getting out on single digit against Zimbabwe

1

Kl should make him injured again for getting out on single digit against Zimbabwe

Akshay

@viratkohliofc

So this is why he was scared of batting first . Bloody deserving

So this is why he was scared of batting first . Bloody deserving

Saurav Anand

@imSauravAnand07

Me after watching kl Rahlul's masterclass innings in 2nd odi against Zimbabwe

#KLRahul #INDvZIM

11

2

Me after watching kl Rahlul's masterclass innings in 2nd odi against Zimbabwe

#KLRahul #INDvZIM https://t.co/eQlZNQlBCI

Starlord

@NotTheDarkBlade

Ab agar team haar gayi toh rahul ko hi gaaliyan padegi

1

Ab agar team haar gayi toh rahul ko hi gaaliyan padegi 😭😭😭😭

Pant's Reverse Sweep

@SayedReng

This is what happens when you get greedy for game time and promote yourself as an opener. Not a true captain’s move.

2

This is what happens when you get greedy for game time and promote yourself as an opener. Not a true captain’s move.

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KL Rahul received a lot of backlash for his decision to bowl first

The main reason to send KL Rahul on tour to Zimbabwe was to look at his batting form. The 30-year-old didn't even get to face a single ball in the first ODI, so many thought that Rahul will elect to bat first if he wins the toss on Saturday.

However, that was not the case as the stand-in captain once again decided to bowl first and it left many scratching their heads. India once again had a good day with the ball, as pacers Mohammad Siraj and Prasidh Krishna were bang on money right from the get-go.

Shardul Thakur, who came in for Deepak Chahar, did leak a few runs, but ended up as the pick of the bowlers (3/38) as the hosts were cleaned up for just 161. Despite losing a couple of wickets, the Men in Blue need just 86 more runs at the time of writing to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

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