KL Rahul has once again failed to show up when it mattered for India. The opener has continued his poor form in the ongoing match against South Africa. He has scored 4, 9, and 9, respectively, in the T20 World Cup matches against Pakistan, the Netherlands, and South Africa. He did not manage to score a single run in the first over and got caught out easily when he edged a Lungi Ngidi delivery towards Aiden Markram, who was at first slip.

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma also failed to register a significant score as he was sent packing by Lungi Ngidi having scored only 15 runs.

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Fans are already criticising Rahul’s performance on social media and are calling for Rishabh Pant to be included in the team in his place. India already have a wicketkeeper in the form of Dinesh Karthik and thus had left Pant on the sidelines for the three matches so far in this tournament. However, with DK too failing to impress in this match (6 off 15 balls), the case for Pant’s inclusion keeps getting stronger.

One Twitter user said, “KL Rahul being the main reason for creating pressure on other batsmen at top and force them to play risky shots, undermining the whole batting lineup! High time to get in Pant there!”

Some have even pointed out Rahul’s impressive form in IPL 2022, saying that he will not perform unless given an orange cap:

Rahul was the second-highest run-getter in IPL 2022 (616 with an average of 51.33. 

Some Twitters users have chosen the sarcastic route to deal with the Indian opener’s poor form:

Virat Kohli, who had remained not out in the two previous matches against India and the Netherlands, followed in the footsteps of Rahul and Sharma, and got out scoring a paltry 12 off 11 balls. The three wickets of Kohli, Sharma, Rahul, as well as Hardik Pandya were all taken by Lungi Ngidi.

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Hardik Pandya, who had scored a crucial 37-ball 40 against Pakistan in India’s first match of the ongoing tournament, was also sent packing after scoring just two. He went for a pull shot behind square on the leg side, and was caught out by Kagiso Rabada.