Rohit’s Century Boosts India, But KL Rahul’s Shot Leaves Gavaskar Speechless
India secured another crucial win against England in the second ODI in Cuttack, with Rohit Sharma finally ending his long ODI century drought. His 90-ball 119 not only silenced doubts over his form but also reaffirmed his importance ahead of the Champions Trophy.
Despite Rohit’s heroics, India still had work to do in their 305-run chase. When Shreyas Iyer departed at 258/4, all eyes were on KL Rahul and Axar Patel to finish the job. With just 30 runs needed, Sunil Gavaskar, commentating live, urged the batters to play smart and avoid unnecessary risks.
However, in the 41st over, Rahul attempted an ill-timed pull shot off Jamie Overton and got caught behind, leaving Gavaskar stunned into silence. The dismissal raised concerns as Rahul is India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter for the Champions Trophy.
This isn't the first time Gavaskar has questioned Rahul’s approach. In the first ODI, he had criticized the batter for going into a shell while Shubman Gill neared his century, only to fall cheaply to Adil Rashid. With the Champions Trophy approaching, Rahul’s consistency will be crucial for India's success.