WATCH: Despite scoring 97, KL Rahul fell down in disappointed after hitting winning six; Here's why

KL Rahul turned out to be the star with the bat for India in the successful run-chase against Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai. The right-hander came in at a difficult time when the team required a resolute character on the pitch, and Rahul played according to the situation to keep the trouble at bay. He scored an unbeaten 97 to take home a 6-wicket victory for Team India.

3 things you need to know

• India got off to a winning start in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023
• Team India defeated Australia by 6 wickets
• KL Rahul was adjudged the man of the match for his extraordinary innings of 97

KL Rahul wins it for India

It was one of the days when KL Rahul could do nothing wrong. He took the crease when India were reeling at 2 for 3, and with Virat Kohli, he put up a record-breaking stand of 165 runs. It is the highest-ever partnership by an Indian pair against Australia in an ODI World Cup.

He timed everything to perfection and played a flawless knock of 97 runs. As 5 runs were required for the win, KL Rahul played a magnificent drive that was so clean that it cleared the boundary. The stroke ended the match which meant Rahul remained 3 short of a well-deserved century.

KL Rahul's unusual reaction after hitting glory shot

The reaction that Rahul showcased after playing the glory shot did not come out as the usual one that players are known to display. Rather it was as if he intended to play the shot for 4 runs. Rahul was asked about it in the post-match comments section, and he admitted that he was planning to get a hundred, and the only way to get there was by hitting a 4 and then a 6. It turns out he hit it too well on first instance and the room to strike another six wasn't left.

KL Rahul Finished the game with a six and fell short of 3 runs to get his well deserved century.
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"I hit it too well, I just calculated how to get to a 100 in the end. The only way was a four and a six, but no qualms on not getting to that hundred." KL Rahul said.

While he could not get to a century, would have been his 7th in ODIs, but he did enough to get the Man of the Match award.