KL Rahul Did Not Bat With "Do-Or-Die" Mindset: Wasim Akram On Star's Cricket World Cup Final Show

25.11.2023 - 17:37 sports.ndtv.com

KL Rahul didn't play with a "do-or-die" mindset as he didn't want to expose India's tail-enders, which is probably one of the biggest reasons for host country's World Cup final defeat, feels Pakistan legend Wasim Akram.

Batting first, India posted a modest total of 240 in 50 overs and Rahul scored a painstaking 66 off 107 balls with a solitary boundary to his credit. "If I have to pick any particular reason, I suppose the middle order should have played with a ‘do or die' mindset," he told Star Sports. "I can understand what was going through Rahul's mind, that there was no batting to come after Jadeja and that he had to bat deep, and batting deep meant he couldn't take risks of getting out," Akram added.

Final was one game possibly when team missed all-rounder Hardik Pandya more than ever as he lends that balance in the middle-order with his power-hitting. "If possibly Hardik was in the team, he (Rahul) probably would take that risk.

But, if he had taken a risk and gotten out in this situation, then people would have criticised him for that as well," the ‘Sultan of Swing' explained.

cricket Australia Cricket Team India Cricket Team cup on Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma Star Sports Wasim Akram Kl Rahul Australia India Pakistan

Former Indian cricket team batter Gautam Gambhir was not pleased with the approach taken by Rohit Sharma and Co while batting in the Cricket World Cup 2023 final against Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. India were all out for 240 and in response, Travis Head played a phenomenal knock to guide the Aussies to a record-extending sixth World Cup title. Gambhir pointed out that it is the 'most courageous' team who have the advantage in games like the World Cup final and the Indian batters were not aggressive or courageous in their approach after a good start.

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Former Pakistani skipper Misbah-ul-Haq hit out at Indian wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul following his 66-run knock against Australia in the ODI World Cup 2023 final match on Sunday. While speaking on a Pakistani-based channel, A Sports, Misbah said that Rahul did not trust the other batters in the first inning of the game. He further added that the 31-year-old was thinking of reaching the 250-run mark for his team and it got difficult. However, the former cricketer also praised the Indian right-handed batter and said that he played very well against spin bowling.

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PM Narendra Modi was among the many dignitaries present for the Cricket World Cup 2023 final in Ahmedabad on Sunday. He was also present at the presentation ceremony and gave the ODI Cricket World Cup trophy to Australia's winning captain Pat Cummins. Later, he went and met the Indian cricket team in the dressing room. The images from the meeting has gone viral on social media. The ODI Cricket World Cup 2023's top wicket-taker, Mohammed Shami expressed gratitude towards fans for their support throughout the tournament and thanked PM Narendra Modi for meeting players in the dressing room. Even Ravindra Jadeja expressed his gratitude towards PM Narendra Modi.

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