Team India’s wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul was witnessed consoling a fin after Men in Blue knocked out Australia from the Champions Trophy after 4-wicket win in Dubai on Tuesday.
With India needing just four runs off the final 12 balls, KL Rahul stepped out to Glenn Maxwell and launched a tossed-up delivery into the stands, sealing the win in style. The win also saw India exorcise the painful memories of the 2023 World Cup final defeat on home soil just 15 months ago.
Amid the celebrations, a heartwarming moment unfolded when a fan breached security and ran onto the field with tears streaming down his face. Instead of pushing him away, Rahul welcomed the emotional fan with a warm hug just as he had steadied the Indian innings when Virat Kohli was dismissed for 84. The touching embrace quickly went viral
India script history after win over Australia
India scripted history by registering the highest-successful run chase against Australia in the knockout match of an ICC tournament. India reached the final of the Champions Trophy for the third successive time, having won the title in 2013 but falling short in the 2017 final.
India have also become the first team to play the finals of four back-to-back ICC events after playing the summit clash of the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC), 2023 Cricket World Cup, and 2024 T20 World Cup. This has also made Rohit Sharma the first captain in history to reach the final of all four major ICC event finals.
The Men in Blue are also the first team to reach the final of the Champions Trophy five times having previously played the summit clash in 2000, 2002, 2013, and 2017. West Indies have the second-most appearances in the summit clash of the marquee event three times (1998, 2004, and 2006).