In an occasion of considerable individual accomplishment and memorable importance for Indian cricket, KL Rahul, India’s refined and sturdy opening batsman, etched his presence into the statistics annals on Day 1 of the critical fourth Test against England at the renowned Old Trafford, situated in Manchester.
KL Rahul etches name in history books at Old Trafford
On Wednesday, July 23, Rahul surpassed a noteworthy landmark, becoming only the second Indian opening batsman in the prestigious chronicles of Test cricket to amass 1000 runs on English grounds, a feat previously accomplished only by the celebrated Sunil Gavaskar.
This outstanding achievement not only emphasizes Rahul’s extraordinary steadiness and adjustability in challenging foreign circumstances but also strengthens his status as a commanding Test batsman on the worldwide platform, particularly in the demanding domain of English Test cricket, where he has reliably displayed his skill. Rahul’s lasting grace and resolve reached a noteworthy point on Wednesday, July 23, during India’s initial innings in the continuous 4th Test against England at Old Trafford. Requiring just 28 runs to achieve 1000 Test runs as an opening batsman in England, Rahul attained this considerable objective by skillfully acquiring a single off Chris Woakes‘ opening delivery of the 15th over, signifying a genuinely memorable instance.
Rahul joins Sunil Gavaskar, Virat Kohli and other Indian batting icons in England
This attainment elevates him to an exclusive group, establishing him as solely the second Indian opening batsman, after the famous Gavaskar, to accomplish this honor. Gavaskar, throughout his distinguished 16-year Test career, had collected a total of 1152 runs in 16 Tests contested in England. Rahul’s expedition in English Test cricket commenced with his debut at Edgbaston in August 2018, where he batted at No. 3 in both innings, accumulating 4 and 13 runs. However, in all 12 following Tests preceding this Manchester match, he has steadily initiated the innings, attaining his 1000-run milestone as an opening batsman in his 12th Test in England in that capacity.
Observing the broader perspective of Indian batsmen, Rahul presently stands as the fifth overall Indian batsman to accumulate 1000 Test runs in England, joining a distinguished collection that comprises Sachin Tendulkar (1575 runs in 17 matches, 4 centuries/8 fifties), Rahul Dravid (1376 runs in 13 matches, 6 centuries/4 fifties), Sunil Gavaskar (1152 runs in 16 matches, 2 centuries/8 fifties) and Virat Kohli (1096 runs in 17 matches, 2 centuries/5 fifties).
Concerning his showing in the present match, Rahul’s total Test runs in England presently amount to 1017, accomplished in his 13th Test on English territory, displaying noteworthy consistency with an average of 42.32, including 4 centuries and 2 fifties. It warrants noting that among these five Indian batsmen, solely Kohli has not been able to accumulate 1000 Test runs against England in England (his 1096 runs encompass matches against New Zealand and Australia in England).
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Rahul’s resurgent form in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar series
KL Rahul’s dominant batting displays in the current Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy have strongly cemented him as a support of strength for the Indian squad. Presently, he is the fourth-highest run-scorer in the series with 375 runs in three Tests at an admirable average of 62.50, including two centuries and a fifty. In the series opener at Headingley, he manifested his strength, accumulating 42 runs in the first innings before unleashing a stunning 137 runs in the second innings, though India eventually encountered a heartbreaking 5-wicket defeat.
His strong form persisted in the second Test at Edgbaston, where, despite being dismissed for just two runs in the first innings, he rebounded emphatically to hammer 55 runs in the second innings, contributing considerably to India’s convincing 336-run victory. The third Test at the iconic Lord’s further emphasized his brilliance, as Rahul magnificently scored 100 runs in the first innings, displaying his skillful technique and temperament, and followed it up with a crucial 39 runs in the second. This century at Lord’s was particularly significant, making him only the second Indian batter in history, after Dilip Vengsarkar, to score multiple Test centuries at the ‘Home of Cricket.’
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