'Who gets the blame? It's KL Rahul again': Online hate and bullying against India star called out after England ODI series loss

'Who gets the blame? It's KL Rahul again': Online hate and bullying against India star called out after England ODI series loss originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Former India player Dodda Ganesh defends KL Rahul from online abuse post Lord's defeat.

Rahul fell for 12 in a tough chase after Rohit Sharma's 137.

His last 10 innings show a batter mostly delivering runs.

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Ex-cricketer slams online hate toward KL Rahul after lord's heartbreak

Former India pacer Dodda Ganesh has stepped in to shield KL Rahul from a fresh wave of online criticism, coming out strongly in the wicketkeeper-batter's defence after India's narrow defeat to England in the series-deciding ODI at Lord's on Sunday.

England had posted a massive total of 387, powered largely by a brilliant knock from Ben Duckett. India's response initially looked promising, with Rohit Sharma striking a magnificent 137 off 110 balls, laced with 17 boundaries and five sixes, before eventually being dismissed by Jacob Bethell.

His departure left India at 260 for 2, still needing 128 more runs from just 68 balls, an already difficult ask that grew tougher once Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer fell in quick succession for modest scores.

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By the time Rahul walked out to bat, India required 84 runs from the final six overs, with Virat Kohli still holding firm at the other end.

However, once Kohli was dismissed by Sam Curran, the equation became significantly harder to chase down.

Rahul tried to seize the momentum, attacking with the required rate climbing past 15, and opened Jofra Archer's over with back-to-back boundaries. Unfortunately, the pacer struck back soon after, bowling him for just 12.

Following the defeat, an X user questioned online whether anyone would credit Rahul for his effort, sarcastically asking if the hashtag ThankYouKL was trending yet.

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@kartik_kannan wrote: "Is anyone saying #ThankYouKL yet?"

Responding directly to that post, Ganesh didn't hold back, pointing out that this exact kind of narrative is precisely why Rahul continues facing disproportionate criticism online despite his impressive numbers.

He wrote: "The reason KL Rahul faces so much hate and bullying online despite his unreal numbers and versatility in ODIs, is accounts like these. The game was practically over by the time KL came to bat at no 6, but who gets the blame? It’s KL again. At this rate KL could be even blamed for Indian diplomatic relations with the rest of the world."

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A look at Rahul's recent form: Last 10 innings score in ODIs

Rahul's numbers over his last ten ODI innings paint a picture that doesn't quite match the criticism he's receiving. He has posted three fifty-plus scores in that stretch, including a match-winning unbeaten 112 against New Zealand in Rajkot and useful contributions of 66 and 60 against South Africa.

There have been quieter outings too, including a golden duck against Afghanistan in Lucknow, but overall, the sample suggests a batter who has largely delivered when needed rather than one deserving constant scrutiny.

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KL Rahul's criticism doesn't add up

Looking at Rahul's numbers honestly, the backlash feels unjustified. A batter who scored an unbeaten century, two more fifties, and multiple not-out contributions across his last ten innings isn't someone in poor form, he's a player who has consistently delivered when given the opportunity.

What happened at Lord's wasn't a case of Rahul failing under pressure; it was a near-impossible equation handed to him with barely any batting left.

Blaming the man who walked in at number six with the game already slipping away, rather than examining the middle order's collapse, reflects lazy scapegoating more than genuine analysis. Ganesh's frustration is entirely fair, and the numbers back him up completely.

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