HIGHLIGHTS
- 1KL Rahul slammed a ton vs WI on second day of second Test
- 2He has now scored a ton in all three overseas series he has played
- 3Rahul replaced injured opener Murali Vijay for the second Test
KL Rahul has been one of the most exciting Indian talents to emerge on the Test scene in last year-and-half. The opener proved it yet again by slamming a classy ton on the second day of the second Test against West Indies in Jamaica on Sunday.
With this century, the 24-year-old Rahul has now scored a ton in every overseas series that he has played. His first came against Australia in Sydney where he scored 110 in 2014. Then in 2015, he scored 108 in Sri Lanka in Colombo. And now he has one in West Indies too.
On Sunday, he reached the century-run mark with a clean six off Roston Chase over mid-on. He took 182 balls to reach the three-figure mark. He started off patiently on the second day and increased the momentum gradually.
He ultimately got out for 158 as he edged a Shannon Gabriel delivery to wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich.
Speaking in the press conference after the end of the day, Rahul stated he is was looking to be confident and build on the good form that he has been in for the last couple of matches. “I tried to keep things simple. I’ve been in good form for the last 3-4 months. I’ve been moving well, and hitting the ball really well.”
Rahul added that his prime focus was to score consistently in all three formats. “I’ve been consistent and that’s what I want to do as a cricketer, to be consistent in all the three formats. I want to play to the best of my abilities and play my roles and responsibilities for the team. Right now I’m in a good space and the focus levels have been great
Surpasses Polly Umrigar
He has now got the highest score by an Indian in his maiden Test innings in West Indies. The earlier record was held by Polly Umrigar, who scored 130 in 1952-53 series.
With this ton, Rahul is the first Indian opener to score a century in his first Test innings in West Indies. Overall, he is the fifth Indian player to score a century in his maiden Test innings in WI.
Emulates Azharuddin
He is only the second Indian player, after Mohammed Azharuddin, to convert his first three fifties into centuries. Nine other Indian players converted their first two half-centuries into tons.
On all the three occasions that Rahul scored a century, he was inducted in as a substitute for injured or off-form players.
In Sydney, he replaced the out-of-form Cheteshwar Pujara while in Colombo he replaced an injured Shikhar Dhawan. The case was no different in Jamaica as he came in place of Murali Vijay, who suffered a thumb injury in the first Test in Antigua.
Interestingly, apart from the three tons, he has only one double digit score in 11 Test innings – 16 against Sri Lanka against Australia.
[Source NDTV]
