"Thank you KL Rahul for not disappointing us today" - Fans slam star batter for below-par performances in 3rd ODI vs SL

Team India star batter KL Rahul failed to get going in the third ODI against Sri Lanka at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, January 15.

Rahul came out to bat at No. 4 ahead of Suryakumar Yadav with only four overs left. Many expected the flamboyant right-handed batter to play a quickfire knock as the hosts were eyeing a total in excess of 400 runs. However, he disappointed fans after failing to play a substantial knock.

The Karnataka-born cricketer got two lives but could only muster seven runs off six balls. He got out while trying to slash one outside the off-stump, only to find Dunith Wellalage stationed at deep cover.

KL Rahul's sub-par knock left fans disappointed, who fired shots at the right-handed batter. Many fans also slammed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for constantly backing him despite repeated failures.

While KL Rahul failed to put up a good knock on Sunday, he was instrumental in helping India secure a four-wicket victory in Kolkata on Thursday. He scored an unbeaten 64 to close out a low-scoring thriller.

Virat Kohli's century propels India to 390 runs

Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill scored centuries as the Men in Blue posted 390/5 in their regulated 50 overs after Rohit Sharma decided to bat first.

Rohit and Gill 95 runs for the first wicket to set up a brilliant platform before Kohli enthralled the audience with his craft. The former Indian skipper looked in great touch from the word go and played some sumptuous shots for his unbeaten 110-ball 166, laced with 13 boundaries and eight sixes.

Kohli, who has now scored three tons in four innings, registered his 46th ODI hundred. The Delhi-born cricketer is now only three centuries behind Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI tons. He now has 10 hundreds against Sri Lanka in 49 innings, the most by a batter against a team.

Gill (116) made full use of the conditions on offer, scoring his second ODI hundred, but it was overshadowed by Kohli's artistry.

India will look to complete a whitewash after winning the first two ODIs in Guwahati and Kolkata.

About the author

Ankush is a cricket journalist at Sportskeeda covering news, listicles, features, and exclusives. A graduate in Commerce and an accountant by qualification, Ankush followed his true calling for sports journalism, and today, has over 8 years of experience having working for the likes of Sportzwiki and Cricfit. Ankush places a very high emphasis on factual accuracy in his articles and believes in representing the true image of the story. Writing in the simplest and most easy-to-understand language possible, especially for those not well-versed with English, is one of his strengths.

Ankush, who captained his state in the National School games, is a big fan of Ravichandran Ashwin. He admires his unconventional thinking and his eagerness to keep learning despite being a legend of the game. His favorite cricket team is Australia because of their mentality and fighting spirit, and them beating India in the 2003 World Cup final left a lasting impression on him.

Apart from watching and covering cricket, Ankush also likes to read books whenever possible.

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