KL Rahul showcased a classic example of grit and resilience, scoring a commendable 70 not out off 105 deliveries on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test against South Africa. Rahul’s stupendous batting helped India reach 208 at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.
Rahul’s clinical knock comprised 10 boundaries and two sixes on the first day of the fixture. Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar was impressed with the wicketkeeper-batter’s gritty knock.
IND vs SA 1st Test Day 2 Live
Speaking with Star Sports, Bangar said Rahul’s experience as an opener in this format is worth its weight in gold. Returning to Test cricket after a long gap of 10 months, Rahul was offered a new role. Rahul had to feature in the middle-order as he was filling in for wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan who is sitting out of the series due to personal reasons. The change in the batting order paid off as Rahul exhibited a flawless knock against the Proteas.
“It’s the overall gambit of skills that he possesses. He’s very good against the new ball, having done that for the majority of his Test career. 25 Test innings as an opener is going to be worth its weight in gold. That will come in handy but that was not the case today,” Bangar told Star Sports.
“Just the fact that he’s been shuffled from number 1 to number 6, it actually helps your understanding of the game as well. When you bat at multiple positions, it makes you a well-rounded player. You understand situations very well. His judgement outside the off stump was impeccable, which helped him construct the innings of this quality,” Sanjay Bangar added.
Rahul converted his overnight score into a fantastic century and lead India to make 245 in their first innings on Wednesday. Batting for just the second time in the middle-order in Tests after nine years, Rahul mixed caution and aggression well enough to counter the bounce and swinging ball while pouncing on the loose deliveries, as he took India from 121/6 to a respectable score of 245, through his knock of 101.
In really testing conditions and a challenging pitch which was conducive for fast bowlers, Rahul made a remarkable comeback with one of his best hundreds in the format. The knock of 101, laced with 14 fours and four sixes, was his second century at the venue, the most by any overseas batter in Tests, and also his seventh ton in the format outside of India.
Rahul is also the second Indian wicketkeeper-batter to score a hundred in Tests in South Africa after Rishabh Pant made one at Cape Town in January 2022.
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