Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) opener KL Rahul made a unique celebration after grabbing a stunner to dismiss Steven Smith during their game against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Meanwhile, the dismissal triggered a collapse as Punjab came from behind to win the game.
Rajasthan Royal lost nine wickets within 16 runs to lose the game at their home turf. Despite Kings XI Punjab staging a brilliant comeback, Ravichandran Ashwin mankading opponent batsman Jos Buttler stole away all the headlines. The dismissal triggered a controversy which also took the game away from the Royals as the home side looked in perfect position to start the campaign on a high. Despite that wicket, Rajasthan had a fair chance with comeback man Steven Smith and Sanju Samson in the crease. It was then when KL Rahul plucked on to a diving stunner to dismiss Smith and change the course of the game.
It was impulsive: Rahul
KL Rahul from long-off covered a lot of miles to his left and never lost the sight of the ball, dived full length and caught it air-borne with two hands. He looked pumped up as stretched his both arms full to celebrate the wicket. He almost copied the famous Bollywood actor and Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan.
Speaking about it, the stylish batsman admitted that it was impulsive. Meanwhile, he also added that his teammates and friends are making fun of him.
“Celebration, I just got stuck, I didn’t know what to do. Friends are making fun of me that what were you thinking, you’re Shah Rukh Khan or something?” Rahul told India Today.
However, KL Rahul failed to get going with the bat. The Karnataka batsman will look to score runs with the bat when they take on Kolkata Knight Riders later today at the Eden Gardens. Rahul will be desperate to get his scoring boots on with an ICC World Cup berth to cement. However, he admitted that is concentrating on the ongoing IPL and is looking to replicate his form from the last season where he finished as the third highest run-scorer.