Jennifer
On March 17, 2023, Team India defeated Australia by 5 wickets in the first ODI at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. KL Rahul scored an unbeaten knock of 75 runs while Ravindra Jadeja remained not out at 45, forming a match-winning partnership of 108* for the sixth wicket.
Earlier, Indian captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and elected to bowl first. The decision proved to be fruitful as the Aussies could only manage to score 188 runs. Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj wreaked havoc in the opposition’s batting line-up, picking up three wickets each. The only resistance came from Mitchell Marsh, who scored 81 runs for his team.
In reply, India lost early wickets and were reduced to 39/4. However, Hardik Pandya and Rahul steadied the ship with a partnership, which was broken by Marcus Stoinis, dismissing Pandya at 36. India was still struggling, but Rahul and Jadeja’s partnership took India to a comfortable victory.
KL Rahul was the star of the show, scoring a much-needed half-century when India needed it the most. He remained unbeaten on 75 off 91, including a maximum and seven boundaries. For Australia, Mitchell Starc bagged three wickets, while Marcus Stoinis took two.
With the victory, India took the lead in the three-match ODI series against the visitors. The Indian fans were delighted with KL Rahul’s match-winning innings, and the team’s overall performance.
Overall, it was a team effort from the Indian side as they bowled well to restrict the Aussies to a modest total, and then chased down the target with ease. The partnership between Rahul and Jadeja was the turning point of the match, and it showed the depth in the Indian batting order.
The next match of the series will take place on March 20, and India will look to carry on the momentum from this win.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to KL Rahul’s match-winning knock against Australia:
Reporter : are you happy
KL Rahul Fan : Yes😭 pic.twitter.com/4nVywcoGg1
— Lokesh Saini (@LokeshVirat18K) March 17, 2023
Main to pahle hi kahta tha KL Rahul jaisa khiladi nahi team mein.🙊
— Devendra Dangi (@iamdevendradang) March 17, 2023
Everyone is interested for Kl Rahul and INDvsAUS I am waiting for this knock tonight between Aakash Chopra and Venkatesh Prasad#venkateshprasad pic.twitter.com/ohmlc6yWeI
— ᴀɴꜱʜ ʏᴀᴅᴀᴠ (@Anshyadav19s) March 17, 2023
KL Rahul at No.5 in ODIs from just 17 innings:
– 88* (64) in NZ:
156/3 to 347/4.– 112 (113) in NZ:
62/3 to 296/7.– 73 (70) in Bangladesh:
49/3 to 186 (lone fifty for India).– 64* (103) Vs Sri Lanka:
86/4 to chase down 219.– 75* (91) Vs Australia:
39/4 to chase down 189. pic.twitter.com/Y8fc60A3ti— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 17, 2023
Mandir stonks after Kohli and Rahul's miraculous comebacks 📈📈#INDvsAUS #KLRahul𓃵
— Rishabh Chaturvedi (@GumnaamHaiKoi98) March 17, 2023
Arre bhai bhai bhai #KLRahul#INDvsAUS https://t.co/dHFfVmzLFl pic.twitter.com/pVpUAr54JL
— Dk (@Dk82153453) March 17, 2023
Venkatesh Prasad praising Kl Rahul in his tweet 🤣😹 #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/yYPlrSFN0e
— BALA (@erbmjha) March 17, 2023
Eveyone hating and bashing on one player.. Droppee from test side.. Survived the phase when pacers were bowling fire and won the match from 40/4.. CHAD KL Rahul 😎🔥https://t.co/V9MI2uOKqm
— Balram Charaniya (@Balraaam05) March 17, 2023
People to KL Rahul pic.twitter.com/ZLXYUwCMmd
— Aarohi Tripathy 🇮🇳 (@aarohi_vns) March 17, 2023
Venkatesh Prasad to KL Rahul pic.twitter.com/T1bacEudkA
— Say My Name (@Its_Heisen_berg) March 17, 2023
