IND vs AUS: India have the best No.5 in the world in KL Rahul, says Shoaib Malik after Netherlands win

Shoaib Malik hailed KL Rahul as the best No.5 batter in the world after his record-breaking hundred against the Netherlands in the World Cup.

KL Rahul’s innings against the Netherlands on November 12th, 2023, was a record-breaking feat that showcased his exceptional batting prowess. Playing at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru during the group-stage match of the World Cup, Rahul achieved the fastest century by an Indian batter in World Cup history, reaching the milestone in just 62 balls.

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This remarkable performance surpassed Rohit Sharma’s previous record of a century in 63 deliveries, which he set against Afghanistan.

Rahul’s innings was a blend of elegance and aggression, as he struck 11 fours and four sixes to compile a scintillating 102 runs off 64 balls. His century was not only a personal triumph but also a significant contribution to India’s massive total of 410/4 in their allotted 50 overs. The partnership between Rahul and Shreyas Iyer was particularly destructive, as they put together a 208-run stand for the fourth wicket, setting a new record for the highest fourth-wicket partnership in ODI World Cups.

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Throughout the World Cup 2023 campaign, Rahul has been a versatile player for India, adapting to the demands of batting at No.5 in the lower order. His ability to come in and immediately impact the game with powerful hitting has been crucial for India’s batting depth.

As quoted by Crictracker, Malik heaped praise on Rahul and hailed him as the best No.5 batter in the World Cup. The former Pakistan skipper compared Rahul to Heinrich Klaasen and said that the Indian batter can play in any sort of situation.

“The best at No 5 in the world cricket. Klassen (Heinrich) needs a base to get going. But if you compare, India have got the best batter at 5, who can play in any sort of situation. If India lose two or three wickets early, he is someone, who can play according to the situation. He can finish the match, can improvise, can play with a good strike rate, and we have seen it today. He is good against spinners as well as the pacers. He picks the gaps and plays the field. Against Australia, we have seen, he was the one who finished the match,” said Malik.