Former India player Harbhajan Singh applauded the strokeplay of both Virat Kohli and KL Rahul during their massive 233-run partnership against Pakistan in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup 2023. They registered a 228-run win over their arch-rivals in a contest that took place in two days at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul both scored tons as India put up 356-2 on the board after being put into bat.

Naming the shots by KL Rahul and Virat Kohli that were the best among all, Harbhajan Singh said on his YouTube channel: “The shot by KL Rahul against Shadab Khan, where he used his wrists to hit towards midwicket, was the shot of the match in my opinion. But, if any stroke can match that and challenge it, it was Kohli’s six off the last ball of the innings. It is not easy to return after an injury, but KL Rahul played brilliantly to mark a memorable comeback. It was total domination by India, the ball did not beat their bats even once and the bowlers had no answers at all.”

However, KL Rahul returned from a long injury lay-off to replace Shreyas Iyer in the Indian playing XI and scored an unbeaten 111 runs off 106 deliveries, which comprised 12 fours and two sixes. The clash against Pakistan marked his first international game since the home ODI series with Australia, ahead of the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

“The target was so huge that Pakistan could only look at it, and not chase it down. Everyone was talking about Pakistan’s bowling strength, myself included, but the Indian batters just played too well. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill set the tone at the start of the innings, they set a really good foundation. Let’s hope that the form lasts until the World Cup,” Harbhajan Singh concluded.