Team India batsman Virat Kohli fell short of a well-deserved century in their ICC 2023 World Cup match against Australia on Sunday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Kohli and KL Rahul worked together to get the team out of trouble at 3/2. He hit 85 runs off 116 balls, including six boundaries, to put the side on the verge of victory. Kohli holed out to mid-wicket off a Josh Hazlewood bouncer just when it appeared he was on his way to another century.
Although the knock displayed impeccable class, the former Indian captain appeared visibly disappointed at falling short of his 48th ODI century. Virat Kohli could be seen expressing his frustration by banging his head with his hand inside the dressing room, and this video has now gone viral.
Watch the clip here:
However, the real damage was already inflicted before Virat Kohli’s dismissal. He and KL Rahul had formed a formidable 165-run partnership for the fourth wicket, which put the team in a commanding position. Although Kohli was dismissed in the 38th over, Rahul persevered and remained unbeaten on 97 as they successfully chased down the target of 200 runs in just 42 overs.
India opened their World Cup campaign at home with a victory. This will give Rohit Sharma and his teammates a lift as the competition progresses.
Virat Kohli’s Genius Advice to KL Rahul: Play Like It’s Test Cricket
KL Rahul, who returned to competitive cricket last month, kept for 49.3 overs in the first innings and assumed he had some time before stepping out to bat. He grabbed a shower during the interval and was out saving India in no time.
“I was just trying to catch my breath as I just had a shower,” Rahul at the end of the match. “I thought I would get a good half an hour – [or] an hour’s – break, put the feet up and just rest up. But I was out there in no time, so there was a bit of rush. I was just trying to get my breath back.”
When asked about Virat Kohli’s advice upon his arrival at the crease with the scoreboard showing 3/2, Rahul revealed that the senior talisman instructed him to approach the game as if it were Test cricket.
“Virat said there’s big help in the wicket, and [we] just have to play proper shots and play like it’s Test cricket for some time and see where it goes,” Rahul said. “That was mostly the plan, and happy that we could do the job for the team.”
On Wednesday, Team India will meet Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.