FATE MEETS TALENT: NO 4 TO THE FORE

Middle-order batter Rahul smashes century, along with Kohli, help India win by 228 runs

- FIROZ MIRZA

HAD it not been a last injury to H minute Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul would not have even found a place in the playing XI against Pakistan in their Super Four match here at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.

The team sheet shared by India captain Rohit Sharma at the toss at least suggested so. The No. 4 position where Rahul eventually came out to bat was marked for Iyer while the former was at No 13 on the team sheet with Suryakumar Yadav being the 12th man.

As if that uncertainty was not enough, inclement weather further prohibited Rahul from expressing himself after a gap of four months. When he was unbeaten on 17, the sky opened up forcing match officials to suspend the game on Sunday. India were 147/2 after 24.1 overs.