SA vs IND 1st Test: In a high-octane first Test between South Africa & India at Centurion, it was KL Rahul’s stellar performance on Day 2 that grabbed the limelight. Hosts as usual were at their absolute best after getting some early breakthroughs in the face of Rohit Sharma, Yashavi Jaiswal & Shubman Gill but then came an outstanding 101 runs knock from KL Rahul that contributed to India’s total of 245 runs.
He got good support from Virat Kohli (38) and Shreyas Iyer (31) who provided valuable support with their astute knocks. But the showstopper of the day was none other than KL Rahul who anchored India’s innings with 80 runs including 12 fours & 2 sixes. But there was a time when KL Rahul was brutally trolled online for his poor form & inconsistent performances. The star of the Centurion Test has finally opened up about the ordeal he faced due to that trolling.
Amidst all the cheers & applause that KL Rahul is currently being showered with he took a minute to address a different kind of challenge i.e. endless criticism on social media. In a candid statement for Star Sports Rahul said, I cannot say it was hatred but there was a lot of criticism. Har chiz pe koi na koi comment kar raha tha. mujhe samnjh nahi raha tha woh kaha se aa raha tha kyuki my performance was not that bad.”
Rahul’s statement indicated the mental pressure a player has to undergo when they are performing at the highest level which also highlights the impact of online trolling on athletes’ well-being.
SA vs IND 1st Test: KL Rahul was subjected to trolls in the Past
This is not the first time KL Rahul has faced online trolling. In his previous interview on Ranveer Show, he highlighted the toll such negativity takes on athletes. He said that none of the players wanted to perform poorly. Cricket is their life & they want to play the sport to the fullest. His words reflected his passion for the sport & the challenges an athlete faces when going through a rough phase. He emphasized the need for support during tough times instead of constant criticism.
Hailing from Mangalore, KL Rahul emerged as one of the best players of the Indian Cricket team. His inspirational journey is a motivation for all the budding cricketers. In Test format, KL Rahul has performed exceptionally scoring 2642 runs in 47 matches at a strike rate of 51.6. His highest score in the format is 199 runs. KL Rahul always makes a point of sharing his experience of his cricketing journey whenever he comes on a podcast or interviews. He is truly a player to reckon with & is an integral part of the Indian cricket spectrum. He is also a candidate for captaincy after Rohit Sharma.
Also read, Pat Cummins or Kagiso Rabada: Who is the better test bowler?
