KL Rahul played a brilliant innings
KL Rahul played a brilliant innings : It was an innings of utmost composure and patience as KL Rahul braved a fierce spell and stormy conditions to score his 8th Test century during the series opener against South Africa at Centurion. This was his second three-figure mark in Tests at the venue, becoming the first overseas cricketer to achieve the feat. Rahul displayed a mix of defensive and attacking prowess during his innings on the first and second days of the Test, completing his century in 133 balls. Interestingly, this match is also Rahul’s first match as a designated wicketkeeper-batsman in Test cricket.
Rahul came to the crease in difficult conditions, when India’s score was 92/4; After a partnership of 68 runs, the team lost the important wicket of Shreyas Iyer (31). Soon after his arrival, Virat Kohli (38) also departed, leaving Rahul as the only designated batsman in the lineup. On the hard surface of the SuperSport Park, Rahul remained confident in his game and built important partnerships with the tail-enders.
They put on a 43-run partnership for the seventh wicket, before Rabada struck again and dismissed Shardul Thakur, who was caught by Dean Elgar for 24. Despite the fall of wickets, Rahul continued to challenge the opposition and played a quickfire inning of 70 runs off 105 balls. Balls and India’s leadership. Crossed 200 runs. Had it not been for Rahul’s brilliant innings, it would have been difficult for the visiting team to cross even the score of 150 in the first innings.
With rain forcing early stumpings and a wet outfield further delaying the start of proceedings on day two, KL Rahul looked to be on a mission. He faced early challenges in his first over of the day when Kagiso Rabada made significant movement across the surface and was beaten three times on the outside edge. Despite these early difficulties, Rahul remained undaunted and took advantage of the bad balls, punishing any balls pitched short especially with disdain towards the boundary line.
In the span of six overs, he took the pace from 70 to 95, with 24 runs coming from four fours and a six. In line with his long-awaited century, Rahul reached the three-figure mark with a six against Gerald Coetzee in the 67th over. With only one wicket remaining (Siraj was out in the same over), Rahul faced the last ball of the over. In response to stand-in captain Dean Elgar’s decision to bring all the fielders inside the circle, Rahul reached the figure in 133 balls with a six towards midwicket.
This was also his second consecutive century in Centurion. Rahul also became the second Indian wicketkeeper-batsman to score a century in South Africa after Rishabh Pant, who achieved the feat during the 2021/22 tour. The batsman was eventually out for 101 as India were all out for 245 in the first innings.
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