IND vs AUS: Bizarre stumping, missed run out chance and more howlers - KL Rahul takes centre stage in Mohali

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KL Rahul took centre stage in the first India versus Australia ODI at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on Friday but not for a positive reason. His fidgety glovework behind the stumps left the fans sweating.

KL Rahul - the wicketkeeper - looked alright in Asia Cup 2023 but looked extremely untidy in the first of the three-match ODI series which is also the final dress rehearsal opportunity for India before the World Cup 2023 which starts form October 5.

Missed run out opportunity ft. KL Rahul's error of judgement

KL Rahul missed an easy run out opportunity to give Marnus Labuschagne a reprieve in the 23rd over of the match. Labuschagne was batting at 11 when he played a delivery from Jadeja wide of the short covers and ran for a single after a fielding lapse from Suryakumar Yadav.

Labuschagne was halfway down the track when Cameron Green sent him back. Suryakumar Yadav had recollected the ball by then and sent a rocket throw just a bit wide of KL Rahul who failed to collect it. Had Rahul collected the ball neatly and dislodged the stumps, Labuschagne would have fallen short of the crease by quite a margin.

Bizarre stumping ft. KL Rahul

KL Raul redeemed himself later but in an extremely bizarre fashion. On the fourth ball of the 33rd over, Labuschagne made a failed attempt to play a reverse sweep off Ashwin. The ball hit KL Rahul's pad and ricocheted on to the stump. The star right-hand batter did not have any part inside the crease and he got stumped out for 39 off 49.

Bizarre run out ft. KL Rahul

On the third ball of the 40th overs, a slower ball from Mohammed Shami took an edge and fell in front of KL Rahul. Cameron Green completed a single by then but a fumble from the wicket-keeper motivated him to plan for a double. He was midway through the yards but his partner Josh Inglis was slow to react.

Green was halfway down the 22 yards when he was forced to turn back. Shami failed to grab the throw from third man fielder but Suryakumar Yadav, who was standing behind him, made a dive to get hold of the ball and complete the job.

KL Rahul is leading Team India in the absence of Rohit Sharma. India elected to bowl after winning the toss. Ishan Kishan is also in the playing eleven but Rahul continued to don the gloves for India. India were set a 277-run target by Australia.