KL Rahul’s dominant 97 proved crucial for India in the match against Australia. The right-handed batsman’s elegant strokeplay puzzled the Australians. Virat Kohli’s resilience complemented Rahul’s batting prowess. It led India to a triumphant victory.

Interestingly, he looked kind of sad after hitting the six that brought India home. Rahul later revealed his intention behind the final shots that gave the team victory.

Originally he wanted to cross a limit, followed by a maximum, to reach his personal milestone of a century. Fate had other plans as he hit the ball superbly and sealed the victory with a magnificent six. As he reflected on that final shot at the postgame ceremony, he jokingly complained that he hit the ball “too well.”

The 31-year-old was in top form in this game. After enduring the difficult conditions on the field, he was only hoping for a short respite. But the unexpected early wickets led to him donning his batting gear sooner than expected. He was hoping to get some rest after keeping wicket for 50 overs given the hot and humid conditions. However, India were at 2/3, so he had to start the race after a brief rain shower.

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With the top order facing a bit of a debacle, the onus fell on Rahul and captain Kohli. Drawing on their wealth of experience, the duo forged a partnership that gave the competition a run for their money. They proceeded methodically, avoiding unnecessary risks and rotating the strike. They made it a point to run hard between the wickets despite the oppressive heat.

Kohli asked Rahul to keep a steady hand. He advised him to initially approach the innings with the caution of a Test match. The game plan obviously changed as they neared the finish line. Their meticulous strategy paid off and culminated in India’s spectacular victory.