"Gautam Gambhir will ruin Indian cricket" - Fans baffled as KL Rahul gets dropped from India XI for 3rd ODI vs Sri Lanka

Fans on Twitter reacted after India keeper-batter KL Rahul got dropped from the XI for the final game of the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka. The series decider between the teams is taking place at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday (7th August).

India, who have struggled with their batting in the last two games, has made two changes to their XI for the final game. One among them was premier keeper-batter KL Rahul, who was dropped from the team and was replaced by Rishabh Pant in the team for the last game.

KL Rahul struggled to get going with the bat in the last two ODIs against Sri Lanka. The keeper-batter scored 31 runs off 43 balls in the first game and then followed it up with a duck in the second game. He was criticized a lot by fans for his struggles against the spin in the last two games.

KL Rahul, notably, has been the best middle-order batter for India over the last few years. The keeper-batter has been performing consistently well for the team while batting at No.5 and was even one of the mainstays of the Indian batting lineup in the ICC World Cup 2023.

Rishabh Pant, on the other hand, will be making his comeback in the ODIs. Since facing the horrific accident in 2023, this will be his first game in the 50-over format. The Southpaw would be keen to make a big impact and seal his spot in the team ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025.

Rishabh Pant has a decent record in the ODIs. The keeper-batter has amassed 856 runs in the 30 games that he has played in the format. He also has slammed one century and 5 half-centuries in his career so far.

Here's the Indian XI for the third ODI:

Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Shreyas Iyer, Riyan Parag, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj

Fans on Twitter react as KL Rahul gets dropped from the Indian XI for the third ODI

As KL Rahul was dropped from the Indian XI for the third game against Sri Lanka National Cricket Team and was replaced by Rishabh Pant, fans on Twitter reacted to it. While some were in favour of the decision, few expressed their disappointment for the same. Here are some of the reactions:

Don't say me, it's not politics.

KL Rahul dropped just for one failure and that too for Rishabh Pant?? p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->b<!---->1<!---->h<!---->7<!---->q<!---->J<!---->N<!---->u<!---->8<!---->C

— ` (@krish_hu_yaar) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Dirty politics against innocent KL Rahul. First they sent him to bat at No. 6 and 7 while he was settled at No. 5. They broke his confidence, then they dropped him for a sympathy quota player. 💔 #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->s<!---->S<!---->L

1 Rt = 1 tight slap to coach or captain. 🤬 p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->E<!---->b<!---->K<!---->K<!---->Q<!---->y<!---->d<!---->l<!---->T<!---->i

— Kunal Yadav (@Kunal_KLR) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

KL Rahul dropped for just one failure. 💔

Politics on his peak 🤧💔#<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->s<!---->S<!---->L p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->v<!---->F<!---->1<!---->v<!---->k<!---->k<!---->B<!---->b<!---->F<!---->Q

— Ꭺʙʜɪsнєк (@IAmAbhisharma5) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

KL Rahul dropped for Rishabh Pant after two failures and even he didn't get to bat the position where he was supposed to bat.

Almost everyone failed to perform in the middle order but soft target KL Rahul dropped. p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->y<!---->1<!---->w<!---->S<!---->4<!---->l<!---->Y<!---->x<!---->I<!---->T

— Sujeet Suman (@sujeetsuman1991) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

I am speechless right now.

Naah man ,this is unreal poltics happening with Kl Rahul 💔💔. p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->6<!---->I<!---->n<!---->N<!---->R<!---->V<!---->S<!---->z<!---->0<!---->n

— Lordgod 🚩™ (@LordGod188) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

KL Rahul dropped for just one failure.

KARMA will hit you hard Rohit Sharma. p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->6<!---->r<!---->o<!---->a<!---->s<!---->4<!---->e<!---->b<!---->h<!---->w

— KL BASIT (@klbasit1) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Unreal man, one of the most consistent performers of ODI cricket, KL Rahul got dropped after failing in just one match. Pls don't destroy his career in ODIs too yaar !!! 💔 h<!---->t<!---->t<!---->p<!---->s<!---->:<!---->/<!---->/<!---->t<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->/<!---->8<!---->F<!---->I<!---->B<!---->w<!---->d<!---->6<!---->g<!---->7<!---->s

— Juman Sarma (@cool_rahulfan) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

BCCI trying really hard to destroy his career

First taken away his vice captaincy and dropped after one failure
Gill Iyer all failed....but target was always KL p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->a<!---->H<!---->P<!---->6<!---->I<!---->5<!---->s<!---->i<!---->v<!---->3

— Rahul Kl (@kl_rahul71934) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

This is not Done KL Rahul Dropped after two games on a Difficult Track. Rahul is One OF the Reason Why BCCI Reach Final OF WC 2023. Cricket and BCCI is Biggest Scam OF Our Country. p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->o<!---->H<!---->4<!---->P<!---->O<!---->j<!---->o<!---->k<!---->k<!---->a

— Ayush Ranjan (@AyushRaGenius) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Kl Rahul got dropped after rare failure in 2 matches, Even Everyone get failed in middle order but they dropped kl Rahul only.

Real politics in Indian Cricket @<!---->G<!---->a<!---->u<!---->t<!---->a<!---->m<!---->G<!---->a<!---->m<!---->b<!---->h<!---->i<!---->r@<!---->B<!---->C<!---->C<!---->I@<!---->I<!---->m<!---->R<!---->o<!---->4<!---->5 p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->q<!---->y<!---->i<!---->y<!---->K<!---->h<!---->j<!---->e<!---->D<!---->a

— Rejected (@klrahul99) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

KL Rahul is dropped after 2 bad performances while Kohli has had 10 and Pant has never even had a good performance to have a bad one in white ball internationals lol. Gambhir era will ruin Indian cricket.

— 🖤 (@ameye_17) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

KL Rahul dropped p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->a<!---->D<!---->s<!---->k<!---->5<!---->F<!---->A<!---->A<!---->n<!---->y

— Div🦁 (@div_yumm) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

🚨 KL RAHUL HAS BEEN DROPPED FROM THE 3RD ODI AGAINST SL.

Worst Decision By The Management p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->l<!---->e<!---->N<!---->8<!---->E<!---->c<!---->r<!---->H<!---->Z<!---->H

— Mxf (@MRF_Kohli_18) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Karma will hit hard who is playing politics behind the doors.

Just one failure, and they dropped KL Rahul. Rishabh, Dube, and Riyan are all playing except Rahul.

Rahul too needed that game time; Rahul could've played easily instead of Shivam Dube.

- Shame on the management. p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->K<!---->O<!---->Q<!---->P<!---->n<!---->X<!---->9<!---->J<!---->b<!---->O

— Abhishek Roy (@AbhiroyTweets) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

It's very sad for BCCI. One failure you can't decide #<!---->k<!---->l<!---->r<!---->a<!---->h<!---->u<!---->l #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->s<!---->S<!---->L p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->k<!---->v<!---->U<!---->j<!---->J<!---->a<!---->r<!---->i<!---->z<!---->k

— yaswanth boddu (@yaswanth_19_1_9) A<!---->u<!---->g<!---->u<!---->s<!---->t<!----> <!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4