KL Rahul scored an unbeaten half-century in his 50th ODI as Team India registered a four-wicket win against Sri Lanka in the second ODI at the Eden Gardens on Thursday (January 12). India won the three-match ODI series with an unassailable 2-0 lead. Brilliant batting from KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya ensured that the hosts overcame the initial jitters to complete the chase. The wicketkeeper batsmen scored 64* while Hardik scored 36 runs. Chamika Karunaratne and Lahiru Kumara took two wickets each. Indian run-chase,
After his match-saving knock for the Men in Blue, social media could not keep calm and praised the right-hander for his composure. The special thing is that Rahul and hardik pandya They shared a 75-run partnership to get India back on track after the dismissal of Virat Kohli.
See the reaction of the fans here…
KL Rahul played a match-winning inning – Ritu (@EntropyPositive) January 12, 2023
well played my hero @klrahul Anna
come back sir #KL Rahul— Singham Kiran (@singam_prince) January 12, 2023
#KL Rahul #Indian Cricket Team pic.twitter.com/PTVh5hDycj— Phantom (@VijayKu12208665) January 12, 2023
Shifting KL Rahul to No.5 position in ODI cricket is another underrated move by Virat – Captain – Virarash (@cheeku218) January 12, 2023
another day another match another win #INDvsSL Brilliant! @klrahul Superb batting congratulations from you – Rajat Cricket Prediction (@cricket_rajat) January 12, 2023
There is a difference between playing for yourself and playing for the country. Yes, KL Rahul is playing with a strike of 53 but he has confirmed that his contribution comes in wins unlike Babar Azam. #INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/pZ98GzVHmf— Akshat (@AkshatOM10) January 12, 2023
Chasing the target, India hit five fours and a six in the first four overs with the help of openers Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma. The batting pair looked in sublime touch and were fed on overpitch bowling by the Sri Lankan pace attack. The Indian skipper looked set for another Eden Gardens special knock, with the ground in Kolkata serving as a happy hunting ground for the right-handed batsman.
However, fast bowler Chamika Karunaratne hit the line of fourth stump to cut Rohit’s lead in the fifth over, bringing some relief to the visitors. The right-handed batsman was dismissed for 17(21).
Lahiru Kumara was hit for successive boundaries by Gill, but the bowler had the last laugh as he dismissed the batsman on the third ball of the over to send the opener scoring a quick 21(12). The responsibility of stabilizing the innings fell on Virat Kohli, the centurion of the previous match, and Shreyas Iyer, the batsman. However, the former Indian skipper fell victim to a sharp in-swinging delivery as Lahiru knocked Virat onto the stumps. The right-handed batsman could only manage 4 (9) runs before getting out.
With the scoreboard reading 67/3 at the end of 10 overs, India were in dire need of a strong partnership. Iyer played some pleasing strokes to find boundaries at regular intervals but was dismissed on a straight full delivery, with the Sri Lankan feeding him a short-pitched delivery expecting a bumper. The right-handed batsman scored 28(33) and failed to convert his start leaving India in a troubled position at 86/4.
Vice-captain Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul were left in to rebuild the innings and the pair ensured that Sri Lanka did not run away with the game. Both of them made an important partnership of 75 runs for the fifth wicket and forced India to move forward. While Hardik was seen playing his shots, Rahul played the second fiddle and held one end. The Gujarat Titans captain got out for 36(53) after playing a crucial innings.
The right-handed batsman was looking to play an aggressive cover drive and could only manage an outside edge. Akshar Patel, who was in excellent form with the bat, hit Karunaratne for a six and a four in the 37th over. The all-rounder looked in a hurry to finish the chase but his innings was cut short by Dhananjaya de Silva in the 40th over.
Axar played an inside-out shot over the covers but boundary raider Karunaratne took a brilliant catch to dismiss the left-hander for 21(21). India’s wicketkeeper-batsman Rahul reached his half-century to present a strong case for himself at the fifth spot. The right-handed batsman along with left-arm chinaman Kuldeep Yadav ensured that India closed out the chase to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
The pair put on an unbeaten 28-run partnership for the seventh wicket to hand the hosts a six-wicket win. Kuldeep also contributed with the bat after taking three wickets on the first day and remained unbeaten on 10 runs. Rahul made his 50th ODI memorable with a match-winning knock of 64*.
Brilliant bowling from spinner Kuldeep Yadav and pacer Mohammed Siraj bundled out Sri Lanka for just 215, with debutant Nuwanidu Fernando scoring a half-century. Siraj and Kuldeep derailed the Sri Lankan innings by taking three wickets each. Lanka lost five wickets for 24 runs in the middle overs, after which Kuldeep took three wickets.
Brief scores: India 219/6 (KL Rahul 64*, Hardik Pandya 36; Chamika Karunaratne 2-51) vs Sri Lanka 215/10 (Nuvanidu Fernando 50, Kusal Mendis 34; Kuldeep Yadav 3-51) (With ANI inputs)