IND vs AUS, 1st ODI: KL Rahul Trends On Social Media After Stunning Catch To Dismiss Australia's Steve Smith | WATCH

Saikat Ghosh

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KL Rahul, who has been going through a tough time due to his dry run with the bat, completed a great catch which helped India reduce Australia to 77/2.

KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, IND vs AUS, 1st ODI
KL Rahul celebrates Steve Smith's wicket at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. (Source: Twitter)

India wicket-keeper KL Rahul completed a stunning grab during India vs Australia 1st ODI match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Rahul, who has been going through a tough time due to his dry run with the bat, completed a great catch which helped India reduce Australia to 77/2. The incident happened in the 12th over of the Australian innings. The visitors were going great guns with opener Mitchell Marsh and Steve Smith sharing a 72-run stand for the second wicket and that’s when skipper Hardik Pandya struck. He bowled a late swinger, but Smith was not playing for the late movement. So he edged it straight to the Keeper where KL Rahul completed a stunning catch.

Also Read: Hardik Pandya won't be part of World Test Championship Final

He dived to his right and made sure that the catch wasn’t spilled. This act made sure that KL Rahul trends on social media. Some of his fans lauded him and exuded confidence, saying that the Karnataka batter may soon bounce back with the bat.

Hardik Pandya won't be part of World Test Championship

Final Hardik Pandya the stand-in captain in India's ODI series against Australia has revealed that he won't be taking part in the World Test Championship final, Hardik Pandya has not played Test cricket for India since September 2018 and has been limited to only playing white-ball cricket due to constant injuries especially back injuries.

However, with India qualifying for the World Test Championship, he was asked ahead of the first ODI against Australia if he would be ready to don the whites again for the one-off game at The Oval.

Also read : India vs Australia 1st ODI: India win toss, opt to field first

While Pandya's presence does give India an edge with the bat, especially in the absence of Rishabh Pant, as well as the ball in swing-friendly English conditions, the all-rounder was quick to rule himself out for the Ultimate Test. On being quizzed if he would be tempted to return, Pandya said as quoted by ICC: 

"To be honest, no. I am ethically very strong in my life. I haven't done 10% to reach there. I am not even a part of the 1%. So me coming there and taking someone's place will ethically not go well with me." "If I want to play Test cricket, I will go through the grind, I will earn my position and then come back. For that reason, to be very honest, I will not be available or play the World Test Championship Final, or any future test matches until I feel that I have earned my spot," Pandya said quoted by ICC.