KL Rahul’s 107-ball 66 ended when he was dismissed by a beauty from Mitchell Starc, with the batter nicking a delivery that straightened to the keeper in the final of the 2023 World Cup against Australia.

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Rahul walked out at No.5 when India were 81-3 in 10.2 overs. He combined with Virat Kohli to score 67 runs for the fourth wicket, but the run rate dropped drastically as only one four was hit in the duration of the partnership that lasted 109 balls.

Kohli was out for a 63-ball 54, bowled off an inside edge by Pat Cummins, but Rahul continued his vigil, facing 107 balls for 66. On a tough and slow track, the wicketkeeper hit only one four, scoring at a strike rate of 61.68, his slowest ODI half-century. He took 86 balls for his fifty, adding 16 more runs in the next 21 balls.

His innings received mixed reactions, with many questioning the lack of intensity and intent in his innings while others applauded his efforts to anchor the innings on a slow track, described by Stuart Broad as one that would be used on “day 4 of a Test match”.

After Rahul’s dismissal, Matthew Hayden, on commentary, called it a “courageous knock” but wondered if it would Rahul would end up being a “match-winner or something else?”

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