In the first ODI match against New Zealand, Team India secured a win by four wickets at the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium in Kotambi.
During the clash, Team India`s wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul played a match-winning knock. Facing 21 deliveries, the right-handed batsman scored an unbeaten 29 runs, which were laced with two boundaries and a maximum.
The 33-year-old cricketer showcased immense patience throughout his innings and finished the match by smashing a towering six.
Following his knock, former Team India cricketer Aakash Chopra heaped praise by saying Rahul has the ability to hit the boundaries easily.
“KL Rahul`s batting approach in this first ODI against New Zealand was interesting. We know him as an aggressive player. But here, with Harshit Rana and an injured Washington Sundar batting with him, he was different. Many times you think he will accelerate and finish the match quickly with a big shot, but he took his time. The first ball he hit in the 49th over wasn`t a boundary ball, but he found the boundary. He has the ability of finding the boundaries easily and He hits his shots when he wants,” said the JioStar expert Chopra.
Further speaking, the former India player said that Rahul does everything he is asked to do—he just hasn’t bowled yet. The former cricketer also highlighted that the Bengaluru-born player is excelling in the toughest role in modern-day cricket.
“He was taking singles off balls he usually hits, but he waited for the right chances. In a different way, his versatility is his biggest quality. Ask him to open, keep the wickets, or be the stand-in captain, he will do it. He just hasn`t bowled yet, that is pending. In these death overs, controlling the chase so well, controlling the nerves almost like Dhoni, hats off to KL Rahul. He is excelling at the toughest role in modern cricket – The finisher,” he concluded.
Team India stalwart Virat Kohli was named the “Player of the Match” award for his blistering knock of 93 runs.
IND vs NZ 2nd ODI: Date and Venue
The second ODI match between Team India and New Zealand is scheduled to be played on Wednesday at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot.
(With ANI Inputs)
