(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] Former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, who had disparaged KL Rahul in the past for his below-par performances, clarified that his criticism was strictly related to the batter’s form in red-ball cricket.
Rahul, who guided Team India to their first victory in the World Cup 2023 against Australia, played a vibrant knock on Sunday at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium. Rahul scored unbeaten 97 runs off 115 balls. This innings came after India found themselves in a critical situation, losing three top-four batters with only two runs on the board.
However, a fine partnership of 165 runs for the fourth wicket between Rahul and Virat Kohli turned the tide in India’s favour. Kohli got out at a score of 85, but Rahul’s undefeated knock marked two vital points for his team on the points table.
Prasad, while speaking to News18 after Rahul’s match-winning knock, put it on the record once and for all that the criticism he offered to Rahul was purely about his performance in red-ball cricket.
“Well, look whatever little criticism I had about KL Rahul, it was about Test matches, not in ODIs. I’ve cleared that aspect with you,” said Prasad
He further acknowledged the innings played by Kohli and Rahul and praised the crucial 165-run stand between the two batters.
“Having said that, that partnership was important. In the mid-show, I had said India will have to bat patiently and build partnerships, and that is exactly what KL Rahul and Virat Kohli did,” he added.
Prasad signed off by providing an explanation of how Australian captain Pat Cummins had lost the plot, which eventually led Australia to a saddening defeat.
“Maybe, Pat Cummins could have continued with Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Instead of bowling them just four overs each, he should have given them an over or two,” he concluded.
Notably, Prasad had written on X in August that he prayed for Rahul’s success in the World Cup 2023 at the Swami Narayan Temple in New Jersey. He tweeted, “Visited the Swami Narayan temple in New Jersey with Anna. Prayed for well being of all Bharatvasis & for the Indian Team to do well in the World Cup. Also secretely prayed for KL to smash it to all corners, have a great world cup and silence his critics like me. Sab khush rahein.”