'Pathetic approach' - Twitter slams KL Rahul after his failure in the third ODI against Zimbabwe

KL Rahul stormed into the Indian squad for the Zimbabwe series at the last moment and was told to captain the team right away. He did not make it into the squad initially and later revealed that the Covid had 'pushed things back by a couple of weeks'.

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Amid huge expectations, Rahul and his team marched onto the field in the first ODI. Team India ended up chasing the target of 192 by ten wickets and took the initial lead. In the second ODI, the skipper opened the innings instead of Shubhman Gill, while chasing the target for India and perished after contributing just a single run. India eventually won the second ODI chasing a target of 167 with five wickets in hand.

He called it right at the toss in the ongoing third ODI and decided to bat first. However, the skipper did not flourish with the bat. The Karnataka-batter got off to a slow start and only nine runs of the first twenty-one balls that he faced.

His first boundary for the series came up against Brad Evans as he pushed the ball through covers for a timely boundary. However, the batter came up with too many defensive shots and did not look settled. He remained not out at twenty-three after facing more than forty balls. The Lucknow batter brought up the first six against Evans in the fifteen over and looked to get things going.

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However, the Zimbabwe bowler had the last laugh as he picked the Indian skipper's scalp on the final ball of the same over. KL Rahul returned to the pavilion after scoring thirty runs off forty-six balls, comprising of one four and one six. He faced backlash after opening the innings in the second ODI. And once again, the batter is facing criticism on social media for not making a mark in the third ODI.

Men in Blue skipper will step on to the Asia Cup 2022 as Rohit Sharma's deputy next and fans expected him to give his best. Let's take a look at some of the tweets where fans went crazy and beyond to criticize the Karnataka batter:

Here is how Twitter reacted

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Seriously pathetic still playing with 90s approach.. 🙏
And idk what has happened to KL rahul he is playing like this from last 2 to 3 years.. With very low strike rate... 🙏

— vishal dangwal (@Dangwal5Vishal) August 22, 2022

Yaar what’s with KL Rahul opening forcefully? The pair of Dhawan and Gill were playing superbly. Rahul anyway won’t open at the WC23, then why this hooliganism? It’s not as if he’s played exceptionally well. Destroyed the team’s balance in both the games. #ZIMvIND

— Siddharth Dutta 🇮🇳 (@siddharthcfc) August 22, 2022

Just to give KL Rahul game time, how badly Indian management has spoiled the batting line-up.

— Gappebaaz (@BazzBalle) August 22, 2022

Thts y KL Rahul shdnt opened he is such a monster at 5 he would hv gt enough balls to face evn today if he had played in middle order.......!

— Akram Khan (@AkramK2108) August 22, 2022

What are you doing @klrahul, if you can't hit a century in front of a team like Zimbabwe, will you hit South Africa in front of England ,Australia? #INDvsZIM

— Mahesh mali (@Maheshmali143) August 22, 2022

KL Rahul is the best selfish player at the moment in Indian Cricket Team. Preserve him. He will loose ICC trophies for you sure #indvszim #bcci #indiancricket #AsiaCup

— _Speaking_shubh_ (@Shubham94458590) August 22, 2022

@klrahul should be sacked from captaincy literally playing with such a defensive approach against this team #SACK

— Cskian3245 (@Blaster03211) August 22, 2022

KL Rahul should only bat in the middle order in limited overs cricket.

At five.

— Rohan (@rohanck31) August 22, 2022

KL Rahul save all the runs for Asia Cup!
Mark my words! @klrahul

— Tanishq K 💎 (@CricTanishq) August 22, 2022

KL Rahul should never play for India.

— sartak (@pepisabaldfraud) August 22, 2022