India vice-captain KL Rahul has been slammed by the fans for his ‘insensitive’ remark on injured Australia opener David Warner. The southpaw had to walk off the field in pain during the second ODI against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Sunday.
David Warner limped off in the fourth over of the second innings having tumbled in the field to save a single from the bat of India opener Shikhar Dhawan. He grimaced and clutched his groin as he got to his feet while the team’s physio sprinted onto the field. He eventually walked off the field.
“We don’t know how bad his injury is. It would be nicer if he gets injured for a long time. One of their main batsmen. It is not nice to wish it for anyone but it would be good for the team. If his injury takes a long time, it would be good for our team,” KL Rahul said during the virtual media interaction.
Watch: Aaron Finch Pushes Away KL Rahul After India Star Tries To Tickle Australia Skipper On His Injury
His comments, however, has not gone down too well with many as the fans questioned his sportsmanship.
Here are some of the reactions:
Not a very fair remark by kl rahul on David Warner's injury . If warner is a tough player ,he is a tough player. You must learn and know how to tackle such players .
— Akshat Raj Patil (@AkshatRajPatil) November 30, 2020
" it will be nice if he gets injured for a long time , I would not wish that for any player but he is their main batsman , it will b good for our team " – kl rahul (vc)
Is Hoping for player's injury a sportsmanship?
And Is #Indiancrickteam not capable to play against Warner.— Gaurav Bade (@lovesgarry) November 30, 2020
Hope Warner is fit for the first test, or at least the following three. Find Rahul's response a lil surprising. Wouldn't you want to beat the best Australian XI to prove last series win wasn't simply because Warner-Smith were missing?
— Kevin Kline (@KevinKline90) November 30, 2020
I think Indian vc needs have a better taste in humour
I mean it's an injury, how can someone even mock on it
Play well instead of giving these kinda statements https://t.co/ZamZ2lszeN— Curly Panda ? #ICT (@aarushi_45) November 30, 2020
And KL Rahul is a sportsman. He is wishing David Warner remains injured for a long time.
Where's the sportsman spirit?
Despicable! https://t.co/wzuBMlNpAd— Priyarag Verma (@priyarag) November 30, 2020
Where is the sportsmanship gone? So you expect winning for yeam India only if Warner gets injured? @klrahul11 https://t.co/r9GpXOj3E4
— ahraz mulla (@AhrazMulla) November 30, 2020
Not good even if it was for humour… we need to raise our game to match the Aussies and not wish them injuries so that their game drops to our current level..
— Trathabuzun (@vishalkaul82) November 29, 2020
Sorry to say as a sportsperson you shouldn't say that on the international platform… I am indian and still want warner to play so that our team will defeat them with warner.. Not expected from rahul
— Anand (@varun70919811) November 29, 2020
Talking about the second ODI, India were once again outplayed by the hosts in yet another high-scoring encounter. For the second match in a row, Steve Smith scored a 62-ball ton while Aaron Finch, David Warner, Manus Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell scored fifties to power Australia to 389 for 4. In reply, India ended their innings on 338 for 9.
