Author Photo
KL Rahul India Asia Cup
(Getty)

The "Cricket for a Cause" auction, held on August 23, brought together cricket fans and philanthropists. The event's objective was to raise funds for the Vipla Foundation, which supports underprivileged communities, especially children with special needs.

Indian cricket stars like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul donated valuable memorabilia. This made the auction a unique opportunity for fans to own a piece of cricket history while contributing to a noble cause.

BET NOW: Exclusive sign-up offers and bonuses when you bet on sporting action

KL Rahul's 2023 World Cup final bat goes unsold

One of the most talked-about items in the auction was KL Rahul's signed bat from the 2023 ICC World Cup final. This bat, used by Rahul during his innings against Australia, was expected to draw attention.

However, to the surprise of many, the bat went unsold at the auction. The bidders did not show the expected interest.

More: 'This is not a county match' - Basit Ali slams Pakistan skipper Shan Masood for field placements against Bangladesh

Rahul had scored a composed innings of 66 runs at a time when India was struggling and losing wickets during the match. His innings helped India score 240 runs. However, his knock did attract criticism for the slow nature of it and it seems people did want to be associated with that particular innings.

At the end of the day, Australia was the better team. They successfully chased the target with 6 wickets in hand, thanks to Travis Head's innings under pressure. The match left a hostile crowd of over 90,000 spectators at the Narendra Modi Stadium at Ahmedabad with a heartbreak.

While KL Rahul's bat remained unsold, other items from the auction saw participation. MS Dhoni's signed cricket bat from IPL 2024 and Virat Kohli's signed jersey and gloves from the ICC World Cup 2019 were among the items that attracted massive bids.

Rohit Sharma's signed bat from the 2023 World Cup was another highlight of the auction. The event successfully raised funds for the Vipla Foundation, though Rahul’s unsold bat stood out as a surprising result.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Learn more >

Author(s)
Divy Dubey Photo

Divy Dubey is a content producer for The Sporting News' India edition.