Birthday special: KL Rahul – Five most memorable knocks by the Indian batsman
A classy stroke-player, and an impressive wicketkeeper, who can float in the batting order as per need, KL Rahul has become a regular face in the Indian team. Performances at every level at the game have led him to represent in each of the three formats, and he has got centuries in all of those. As he turns 29, here’s a look at his top knocks –
199 off 311 vs Eng, Chennai, 2016
England was on a tour of India. Going into the fifth and final Test at Chennai, India led the series 3-0. After England posted 477 in the first innings, KL Rahul came up with a massive hundred, 199 off 311, including 16 fours and three sixes. His gritty ton ended painfully short of a double-ton, but his knock helped India to a massive 759/7 as the hosts sealed the game by an innings and 75 runs.
111 off 118 vs SL, Leeds, 2019
Going against Sri Lanka at the 2019 World Cup, India had already secured their semi-final berth but the fixture was about maintaining the momentum before a decisive clash. Chasing a tricky 265, openers Rahul and Rohit Sharma completely killed the chase by adding 189 runs for the opening wicket. In an innings laced with 11 fours and a six, Rahul scored 111 and took India beyond the line.
? First Indian to score a century on debut in men’s ODIs
? Only the 3rd Indian to score a century in all formats
? Orange Cap winner in the 2020 IPLHappy birthday to the dashing @klrahul11 ?#HappyBirthdayKLRahul pic.twitter.com/lu72q5lfR3
— 100MB (@100MasterBlastr) April 18, 2021
108 off 114 vs Eng, Pune, 2021
With scores of 1, 0, 0, and 14 in the T20I series, Rahul was dropped in the fifth T20I of the series, which was to be followed by three ODIs. Showing trust in the wicketkeeper-batsman, the management gave him a spot in the ODIs, and he struck a half-century straightaway. Rahul followed it with a sensational century, hitting 7 fours and two sixes in the second ODI. Though India lost the game by 6 wickets, Rahul silenced his critics in style.
110 off 51 vs WI, Lauderhill, 2016
India was up against West Indies in a T20I series played in the United States of America. Chasing a mammoth 246 for victory in the first game, Rahul, batting at no.4, smashed the bowlers all over the park, as he brought up a stunning 46-ball century. Having smashed 12 fours and five sixes, he remained unbeaten at 110. India lost the game by just 1 run, but it was a brilliant exhibition of T20I batting in a losing cause.
89 off 49 vs SL, Indore, 2017
During a T20I game against Sri Lanka in Indore, Rohit Sharma and Rahul recorded a massive 165-run opening stand, with Rahul playing an anchor to the Indian stand-in skipper in that game. He was 46 in 33 balls when Rohit was dismissed. In a brilliant counterattack, Rahul smashed 43 in his next 16 balls to send Sri Lankan bowlers in a state of shock. On the back of his 49-ball 89, India made a record-breaking 260/5 and won by a whopping 88 runs.
