“Thank you KL Rahul for not disappointing us today”

Team India star batter KL Rahul failed to get going in the third ODI against Sri Lanka at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, January 15.

Rahul came out to bat at No. 4 ahead of Suryakumar Yadav with only four overs left. Many expected the flamboyant right-handed batter to play a quickfire knock as the hosts were eyeing a total in excess of 400 runs. However, he disappointed fans after failing to play a substantial knock.

The Karnataka-born cricketer got two lives but could only muster seven runs off six balls. He got out while trying to slash one outside the off-stump, only to find Dunith Wellalage stationed at deep cover.

KL Rahul’s sub-par knock left fans disappointed, who fired shots at the right-handed batter. Many fans also slammed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for constantly backing him despite repeated failures.

Here are some of the reactions:

KL Rahul is wasting all his energy on Ahan Shetty

KL Rahul is wasting all his energy on Ahan Shetty 😡

Accha hai KL Rahul khud he ftaft out hokr chala gya vo smj gya uske bas ki baat ni tez run banana
#SLvsIND

Accha hai KL Rahul khud he ftaft out hokr chala gya vo smj gya uske bas ki baat ni tez run banana 😃😃#SLvsIND

While KL Rahul failed to put up a good knock on Sunday, he was instrumental in helping India secure a four-wicket victory in Kolkata on Thursday. He scored an unbeaten 64 to close out a low-scoring thriller.

Virat Kohli’s century propels India to 390 runs

Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill scored centuries as the Men in Blue posted 390/5 in their regulated 50 overs after Rohit Sharma decided to bat first.

Rohit and Gill 95 runs for the first wicket to set up a brilliant platform before Kohli enthralled the audience with his craft. The former Indian skipper looked in great touch from the word go and played some sumptuous shots for his unbeaten 110-ball 166, laced with 13 boundaries and eight sixes.

Kohli, who has now scored three tons in four innings, registered his 46th ODI hundred. The Delhi-born cricketer is now only three centuries behind Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI tons. He now has 10 hundreds against Sri Lanka in 49 innings, the most by a batter against a team.

Gill (116) made full use of the conditions on offer, scoring his second ODI hundred, but it was overshadowed by Kohli’s artistry.

India will look to complete a whitewash after winning the first two ODIs in Guwahati and Kolkata.