'KL Rahul is the biggest..', India fans angry over opener's 'slow' approach vs Hong Kong, check reacts

Indian opener KL Rahul was slammed on Twitter by Indian cricket team fans for his slow approach in the Asia Cup 2022 clash vs Hong Kong on Wednesday (August 31). KL scored 36 on Wednesday night but it came off 39 balls and included just 2 sixes. Courtesy his approach, India never got off to a flying start and it dropped more pressure on his partner Rohit Sharma who was forced to play big shots to keep the run-rate going. When Rahul got out, fans took to Twitter to post their views on his innings, some saying that he plays just for numbers. Other called him a 'statpadder'. 

Check out reactions here. 

Is there something in the pitch that is not visible. Simply can't fathom this approach especially from KL Rahul. #IndvsHkg — Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) August 31, 2022

Ye bhai Zimbabwe series se hee bahar nahi aa raha. #KLRahul — Yogesh (@YogeshNagar3) August 31, 2022

Kl Rahul as an opener in T20Is is something I never liked! I would rather prefer opening with Rishabh Pant even if that means a lot of risk! #INDvHK #AsiaCup2022

— Mohsin Kamal (@64MohsinKamal) August 31, 2022

You can't have both KL and Virat in the playing XI for T20Is. #AsiaCup2022 — Pratyush Raj (@pratyush93_raj) August 31, 2022

KL Rahul on work that too against Hong Kong, setting such level of bars for upcoming youngsters _ _
KL Rahul the true ambassador of Academy ___ #INDvHK — KL Rahul's TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) August 31, 2022

KL Rahul has scored 16(20) at the end of Powerplay against Hongkong. No hate against him, but literally he doesn't even try to hit ball for boundaries. NO WORDS. — David (@CricketFreakD) August 31, 2022

Team India eventually posted 192/2 at the end of 20 overs after being asked to bat first by Hong Kong. Former Indian captain Virat Kohli scored a T20I fifty after a long time. He took his time at the start but opened up in the last 4 overs. Not the best of innings, he was scratchy on occasions but there some brilliant shots in between both vs spin and pacers.

Kohli went back unbeaten on 59 off 44 balls that included 1 four and 3 boundaries. But the best batter for India on Wednesday night was Suryakumar Yadav who smashed a quickfire 68 off just 26 balls that included 6 fours and 6 sixes each. The last 4 sixes came in the last over the innings in which he smashed a total of 26 runs. His knock came at a strike rate of 261.54 and was one of the best T20 innings he has played.

Hong Kong need 193 to win against the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yuzvendra Chahal which is going to be a big ask. If India win tonight, they will qualify for the Super 4s, where they are expected to meet Pakistan again on September 4