Former India opener lauds 'most trolled player' for rendering selfless service in World Cup 2023

Team India finished the league phase of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 on a high. The Men in Blue came up against minnows Netherlands on Sunday and vanquished the side in the same way as other opponents to register 9th consecutive win in the tournament. India defeated the Dutch side by a massive margin of 160 runs, and giving rest to the bowlers, it was the batters who took the game away from the opposition.

3 things you need to know

• India defeated the Netherlands by a huge margin of 160 runs
• India finished the league stage with an unbeaten record
• Team India will take on New Zealand in the first semi-final of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023

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Team India's dominance intact

After opting to bat first, Team India put on a momentous 410 on the board. The score was reached courtesy of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul's century knocks and half-centuries from Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli. In reply, the Netherlands never looked in the game, and consequently, the side bundled out at 250. Thus, it was another great day in the office for Team India. Needing just two more of these to script history.

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Akash Chopra highlights the importance of KL Rahul

Expressing views via his official YouTube channel, cricketer turned expert, Aakash Chopra weighed in on the innings played by KL Rahul. He talked about Rahul's record-breaking innings and lauded him for his "selfless service to the team".

"He (Rahul) might be the most trolled player this year but he batted extremely well. If I see as a neutral observer, he is the guy who can open in all three formats, used to do it as well, and can do it if you ask him to do it now also," said Chopra.

"However, he doesn't get to open, although everyone wants to play in the top three in this format. The team needs him at No. 5 because others can't play at No. 5 and he can. He is not a keeper as well but has become one. I think there is something in the name, if you are Rahul, you need to do selfless service for the team," said Aakash Chopra.

"He scored 100 runs in 62 balls. Hearty congratulations to him firstly, because he missed one in the first match, but it happened here. I am not at all obsessed, but our game is slightly obsessed and our country is extremely obsessed with milestones," said Aakash Chopra.