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KL Rahul came under criticism from Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajay Jadeja and Aakash Chopra after Yashasvi Jaiswal was run out during India's first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. While Jadeja felt both batters were at fault, Pujara and Chopra suggested that Rahul could have avoided the dismissal by reacting differently after Jaiswal lost his balance.
The dismissal came in the 11th over when Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul were involved in a bizarre mix-up after the young opener stumbled following a collision with Sri Lankan spinner Keshara Nuwantha. Rahul had already set off for the single and, despite initially stopping, eventually continued after Jaiswal appeared to signal that he wanted to run, only for both batters to end up at the same end.
Yashasvi Jaiswal gets run out after terrible mix-up with KL Rahul
Yashasvi Jaiswal's promising start to the first Test against Sri Lanka ended in an unfortunate run-out in the 11th over. The left-hander had made 32 off 37 balls, including five fours, before being dismissed following a communication breakdown with Rahul.
The incident occurred when Rahul pushed a delivery from Keshara Nuwantha towards mid-on and immediately set off for a single. At the same time, Jaiswal stumbled after colliding with the diving bowler and fell to the ground.
Rahul initially appeared to stop after realizing that Jaiswal had fallen. However, Jaiswal got back up and seemed to indicate that he wanted to complete the run before suddenly attempting to return to his crease. By then, KL Rahul had already reached the other end.
Both batters ended up at the bowler's end, with Rahul grounding his bat first. Sri Lanka eventually completed the run-out through Niroshan Dickwella, who collected the throw and broke the stumps after a brief hesitation.
Yashasvi Jaiswal's dismissal left India 47/1. It was also the third time he had been run out in Test cricket, after similar dismissals against Australia at the MCG in 2024 and the West Indies in Delhi last year.
KL Rahul faces criticism from Ajay Jadeja over Yashasvi Jaiswal’s run-out
Former India captain Ajay Jadeja felt the dismissal could have been avoided, particularly because KL Rahul had remained on his feet and was in a position to assess what was happening.
Speaking during a discussion on Sony Sports, Ajay Jadeja acknowledged that both batters were involved in the mistake but questioned why Rahul did not return to his crease after seeing Jaiswal on the ground.
"The one who was standing and had not slipped could have gone back. How could the man lying down have reached there? If he didn't go back himself, he had realized. He had committed so far ahead. When a guy gets out, someone has made a mistake. Yashasvi Jaiswal had fallen, and he had no idea," Jadeja said.
Ajay Jadeja also highlighted the lack of communication between the two batters during the incident.
"There is just one thing. Even when he got up, he didn't look toward his partner but toward the ball. He didn't understand what his partner was trying to say. It's a split-second thing there, but I am looking at it the other way. KL Rahul was watching everything. He had not fallen. When he ran after hitting the ball, he too didn't see his partner on the ground. So the main thing is that they didn't see each other," he added.
Cheteshwar Pujara shares his views on KL Rahul-Yashasvi Jaiswal mix-up
Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara also discussed the dismissal during a conversation on Cricinfo. Although he did not directly blame KL Rahul for the run-out, Pujara felt the India vice-captain could have reacted quicker once he saw Jaiswal on the ground.
Pujara stressed that Test batters should be willing to sacrifice a single rather than risk losing a wicket in such a situation.
"It was unfortunate. There was a big mix-up. And, I felt honestly, when KL saw Jaiswal was on the floor, he should have immediately gone back, rather than still going for that single. In the Test format, you don't mind missing a single but there is a prize on your wicket. So, it was a bit unfortunate for Yashasvi," Pujara said.
Aakash Chopra blames KL Rahul over Yashasvi Jaiswal run-out
Aakash Chopra was more direct in his assessment, putting the majority of the blame on KL Rahul for the dismissal. The former India opener argued that Jaiswal had little chance of making it to the other end after falling, while Rahul had a better view of the situation.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, "This was Yashasvi's 30th Test, and he has played at 30 different venues. He scored 32 in this match and got run out. I thought it was KL Rahul's fault because Yashasvi had fallen after the bowler's leg hit him. He wouldn't have reached the other end even if he had gotten up and run."
Aakash Chopra further explained why he felt Rahul should have been more alert to his partner's situation.
"Rahul had already committed. He was watching the ball and wasn't looking at his partner at all, as to what had happened with him, and eventually, an unfortunate run-out. A run-out in a Test match is a bad way to get out. It was a communication breakdown. Life is not that fair sometimes," he observed.
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