IND vs SA: Twitter Brutally Trolls KL Rahul For His Slow Batting In 1st T20I Against South Africa

India opener KL Rahul came under heavy criticism from fans on Twitter after he struggled to get go from the start in the 106-run chase in the ongoing first T20I against South Africa in Trivandrum on September 28, 2022.

Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, won the toss and chose to bowl first. Jasprit Bumrah was missing in the playing XI due to a back injury, while Hardik Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have been rested. Instead of them, Deepak Chahar, Rishabh Pant and R Ashwin came into the side.

Proteas have come to Indian shores with a full-strength squad that will also play in the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.

Indian bowlers Deepak Chahar and Arshdeep Singh routed the top order of South African batting as they were 9/5 in 2.3 overs with Temba Bavuma, Rilee Russouw, Tristan Stubbs, and David Miller scoring ducks and Quinton de Kock making one run.

It was thanks to 25 from Aiden Markram, 24 from Kagiso Rabada, and 41 from Keshav Maharaj that South Africa posted 106/8 in 20 overs. Arshdeep picked 3/32, Chahar took 2/24 and Harshal took 2/26 for India.

KL Rahul Gets Stuck In The Middle Anchoring One End As India Struggles

In reply, India managed just 17/2 runs in 6 overs. Rohit Sharma got out for a duck, while Virat Kohli made 3 runs as Proteas bowlers Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Wayne Parnell used the bounce in the pitch and movement in the air to make the Indian batters’ life difficult.

However, the worst of all was KL Rahul, who showed no intention of a counterattack and was content playing out the deliveries. With two wickets falling, he left the scoring to Suryakumar Yadav who started by smacking Nortje for two sixes in the first three balls he faced.

However, Rahul continue to struggle against pace and spin alike and drew the ire of the Team India fans on Twitter who slammed him for not showing any intent to counter the South African bowlers.

Here are some reactions:

I STAND WITH KL RAHUL pic.twitter.com/Dtddx8ksvz

— Fr?️nt F?️?️t ?? (@frontfoot73) September 28, 2022

KL Rahul before coming in to bat tonight pic.twitter.com/07sPqZWN2M

— ° (@anubhav__tweets) September 28, 2022

KL Rahul batting slower than the time it takes to type Thiruvananthapuram

— Udit (@udit_buch) September 28, 2022

" KL Rahul 15(33) , it's wonderful to watch "
– Harsha Bhogle

???

— ` (@FourOverthrows) September 28, 2022

KLR – 11(26)
SKY- 12(3)

KL Rahul is a danger to Indian Team. He should be dropped immediately. He decides the mood of the game and affects the entire team's mindset single handedly.#KLRahul #KLR #INDvsSA #SAvIND #INDvSA #SAvsIND #IPL #SA20 #IPL2023 #meme #India #PAKvENG #Rohit pic.twitter.com/HRLS6elSSf

— Unique For Life▫️ (@UniqueForLife_) September 28, 2022

Entire country to KL Rahul: pic.twitter.com/YxIDITgmon

— Vishesh Monga (@infinitevishesh) September 25, 2022

KL Rahul is playing his first match against South Africa in T20I Internationals.

— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) September 28, 2022

KL Rahul before coming to the match #KLRahul? #INDvsSA #Deadpool3 #arshdeepsingh #tuktukthala pic.twitter.com/wIo7EJTUQY

— FLICK ?? (@SMARTTHALAFAN) September 28, 2022

Beautiful, splendid, Atrocious and Breathtaking Test Batting from KL Rahul what a amazing, articulate and Cheeky Test T20 player KL Rahul ???

— the hawck (@GujarSiddhant) September 28, 2022

KL Rahul gets out so early that everyone forgets about him and he keeps his place.

— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) September 25, 2022

That was definitely out! Umpire being Suniel Shetty fan saved KL Rahul.

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) September 28, 2022

Most T20i Ducks for India

9 – Rohit Sharma
5 – KL Rahul

Captain Leading from the front ??

— Lokesh Saini (@LokeshVirat18K) September 28, 2022

Can’t trust KL Rahul ever. Will hit some runs in an inconsequential match to seal his place in the matches of consequence.

— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) September 23, 2022

KL Rahul was once called the 360 degree player of India. ???

— ` (@FourOverthrows) September 28, 2022

KL Rahul is batting with 70 SR in a t20 game after facing 50 deliveries! Bizzare. #INDvsSA

— SED KKR FAN (@KirketXpertt) September 28, 2022

Kl Rahul's ipl mode on??

Biggest scam of international cricket..??#INDvsSA #KLRahul #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/2osWOuuo8R

— Satyam Singh (@Satyamthakur004) September 28, 2022

#INDvsS
After the match Dressing room KL Rahul :-#INDvsSA #KLRahul#arshdeepsingh #RohitSharma#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/cooUbgnE3Z

— Kritika Sîñgh ?? (@queenkritika21) September 28, 2022

Kl Rahul after today's innings ??#KLRahul #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/YYSTES9ds1

— Amit Panghal (@AmitPanghal757) September 28, 2022

Kl Rahul while batting in the first 10 overs today :#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/TC8lPVOqLl

— The Avenger (@Mrirrelevant___) September 28, 2022

When it comes to playing test inning in a T20 inning , nobody is better than Kl Rahul in this Indian team
However, I must accept that it was crucial inning by him.#INDvsSA #kerala pic.twitter.com/ujF9f08ztU

— Rishabh Sharma (@cricmonster_lub) September 28, 2022

South African Team Secret Revealed- “Don’t take Wicket of KL rahul”#INDvsSA

— Tanay (@tanay_chawda1) September 28, 2022

I still believe Babar Azam is bigger statpadder than KL Rahul.

— Johns ka baap (@Johns_ka_baap) September 28, 2022

KL Rahul 11(26)
SKY 12(3)
Can't get over this lmao
??? pic.twitter.com/VdVORMjXHE

— Arpit Mishra ଅର୍ପିତ ମିଶ୍ର (@arpitarunmishra) September 28, 2022

Beautiful, splendid, Atrocious and Breathtaking Test Batting from KL Rahul what a amazing, articulate and Cheeky Test T20 player KL Rahul ???

— the hawck (@GujarSiddhant) September 28, 2022

KL Rahul is not just a concern. A very big concern. Been saying for a while. Yes the pitch isn’t easy. But 14 of 31. What’s the approach? #INDvSA

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) September 28, 2022

#QuickByte: Lowest SR for an Indian in the first 30 balls of an innings (playing all 30 balls) ⬇️

KL Rahul – 43.3 vs SA (2022)*
Yuvraj Singh – 46.7 vs PAK (2016)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 50 vs SL (2021)
Dinesh Mongia – 70 vs SA (2006)#INDvSA #Cricket #INDvsSA

— Cricket.com (@weRcricket) September 28, 2022

KL Rahul and Rizwan never fails to do statpadding. Unreal consistency

— Div? (@div_yumm) September 28, 2022

Watching KL Rahul batting these days. pic.twitter.com/cIig5LKOjk

— ಭಲೇ ಬಸವ (@Basavachethanah) September 28, 2022

Kl Rahul's ipl mode on??

Biggest scam of international cricket..??#INDvsSA #KLRahul #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/2osWOuuo8R

— Satyam Singh (@Satyamthakur004) September 28, 2022

KL Rahul before coming to the match #KLRahul? #INDvsSA #Deadpool3 #arshdeepsingh #tuktukthala pic.twitter.com/wIo7EJTUQY

— FLICK ?? (@SMARTTHALAFAN) September 28, 2022

KL Rahul Batting Have Class Of Kohli , Timing Of Rohit And Range Of Gayle But Ends Up Scoring Runs Like Bavuma At Rizwan Strike Rate.#INDvSA

— Deep Bairstow stan (@manianipbks) September 28, 2022

When someone talks about SR in T20s
Kl Rahul: pic.twitter.com/9JjE2RlY7j

— Ansh Shah (@asmemesss) September 28, 2022

Indians watching KL Rahul playing test in T20 match just before the World Cup ?? #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/8j0yRkj1Gk

— FCB? (@Messi_1904) September 28, 2022

If Kl Rahul plays T20I Cricket anymore , it's cricket's lose , not his! Most selfish player in the cricket history!

— ?????? ?? (@Four_tea_Five) September 28, 2022

Starting a match with a good strike rate
Kl Rahul be like***#INDvsSA #INDvSA #KLRahul? pic.twitter.com/zF2bbSb38K

— Jenish Savaliya (@JenishS45) September 28, 2022

after watching KL Rahul's batting today.. pic.twitter.com/xyClkeQnpQ

— Sneh Navaghare (@SNavaghare) September 28, 2022

Why so mad at KL Rahul?
The coach said to him, "Bat like me".
?

— Abhishek Ojha (@vicharabhio) September 28, 2022

KL Rahul 14 off 31 in a T20 match. Not a big target, but you've got to ask if this is how you want the India opening batsman to play. I know that asking questions may get you banned. But still. #INDvSA

— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) September 28, 2022

https://twitter.com/Johns_ka_baap/status/1575160313153933312

Lagta hai KL Rahul ki jersey pehan kar khud coach Rahul Dravid khelne aa gaye hain

— Kisslay Jha?? (@TrollerBabua) September 28, 2022

Me watching kl rahul batting ?. #klrahul #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/NMtZrk3TxJ

— gurkaran (@gurkaransinghhh) September 28, 2022

Also Read:  IND vs SA: Sourav Ganguly Confirms Sanju Samson’s Participation In South Africa ODIs