Why India's stars need to put the team first

If India are to win the World Cup for a third time, cricketers have to prioritise the team over personal glory 

- Sumit Chakraberty

After hitting the winning shot against Australia in Chennai on à Sunday, India's K.L. Rahul sat on his haunches, looking crestfallen. His bizarre reaction was because he was aiming to hit a four. Instead, the shot went for a six, ending the game as India only needed five for victory at that stage. Rahul was on 91 and his plan was to hit a four and then attempt a six from one of the subsequent balls. That would have got him a century instead of finishing on 97 not out.

Rahul's 165-run, fourth-wicket partnership with Virat Kohli-played under intense pressure after the top three batsmen fell for two runs-followed by a quickfire 34-run partnership with Hardik Pandya, secured victory for India with 52 balls to spare. While Kohli rode his luck, playing and missing outside off-stump on numerous occasions and skying a catch that was not taken, Rahul's knock was chanceless and without blemish-until that peculiar reaction at the end.

His early attack against Australia's main spin threat, Adam Zampa, took the game away from the Aussies. That he is batting so well, and also wicket-keeping with aplomb, after a long layoff due to a serious injury in the Indian Premier League earlier this year, speaks volumes about Rahul's character, commitment and class. It would be a travesty if a selfish streak mars that quality.