Senior India opener KL Rahul is set to break Sunil Gavaskar’s record for most runs by an Indian opener in England. The 33-year-old KL Rahul has been in terrific form in the ongoing five-match series against the Ben Stokes-led side, amassing 511 runs in four matches. He is the second-highest run-scorer behind Shubman Gill in the series. As things stand, KL Rahul needs only 45 runs in the fifth Test at the Oval to break Gavaskar’s record and become the most successful Indian opener in England.
The former India international made 1152 runs in 15 Test matches he played in England. KL Rahul currently has 1108 runs to his name. Given how good he has batted so far in the ongoing England tour, it is expected that the Karnataka batter to surpass Gavaskar’s record in the fifth Test, slated to take place at the Oval.
KL Rahul stormed into an elite club, becoming only the second Asian opener after Sunil Gavaskar (542 in 1979) to score over 500 runs in a Test series in England. He’s also just the second visiting opener this century to do so, joining South Africa’s Graeme Smith (714 in 2003).
KL Rahul has turned up big in the ongoing Test series against England, and many feels that he has not let India miss Rohit Sharma at the top of the order. Rohit retired from the Tests ahead of the England tour, and KL Rahul swiftly moved back to the opening slot and scored consistently well on the tough tour. He has scored a couple of centuries and is currently the second-highest leading run-getter in the series with 511 runs at a sublime average of 63.88.
With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli stepping away, doubts loomed over India’s ability to handle English conditions. But KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja have silenced the critics with grit and resilience, showcasing maturity and fight in the toughest of situations.
The star batter KL Rahul also played a gritty 90-run knock in the Manchester Test, which laid the foundation for the draw. KL Rahul fought hard and faced 230 balls to show his grit and determination and rescue India from a tricky position alongside skipper Shubman Gill.
After being bundled 358 runs in the first innings of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, England went on to take a lead of 311. After the visitors were reduced to 0/2, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan departing without opening their tally, things seemed complicated, but KL Rahul and Gill managed to keep the scoreboard ticking and bailed India from any further trouble.
The duo stitched a partnership of 188 runs before KL Rahul departed for 90 runs off 230 balls. He took his time in the middle and set the tone for the middle order to come in and settle in quickly. Meanwhile, after KL Rahul departed, Gill, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar went on to smack a century each as the match ended in a stalemate. Seeing and analysing this stupendous batting all round the tour, Former England cricketer David Llyod has hepaed praises on KL Rahul for his resolute batters.
David Llyod heaps lavish praises on KL Rahul
Former England cricketer David Lloyd has heaped praise on KL Rahul for his consistent performances in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar series against England. KL Rahul scored a match-saving knock of 90 runs off 230 balls in the second innings at Old Trafford, Manchester, to continue his rich form.
The Indian opener added 188 runs for the third wicket with captain Shubman Gill after India was reduced to 0-2. The visitors had conceded a huge lead of 311 runs and thus Rahul-Gill’s alliance was imperative. KL Rahul has aggregated 511 runs in four Test matches against England in the ongoing series at an impressive average of 63.88.
David Lloyd said in the talkSport Cricket YouTube Channel :
“ I can’t believe it (on KL getting 400+ (511 in 8 innings) in a Test series for the first time).”
Asked if England’s vice-captain Ollie Pope should learn from KL Rahul, Lloyd said
“ Don’t you think that Pope can if he’s watched all this as he has and see the calmness of the Indian batters. You know they play the shot and walk away. Come back in and play the shot and walk away. The word that you use there, Ollie Pope, is an elegant player, but it’s frenetic. You know it’s a Test match if it’s a long time, just calm down, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, all the greats calm down,” he added.
To date, KL Rahul has scored 10 Test centuries, nine of which have come outside India, with seven in SENA countries. KL Rahul is just 13 runs away from his eighth SENA century. Despite his success in overseas conditions, which is a hallmark of a great Indian batsman, KL Rahul has struggled with consistency throughout his career, scoring 3,765 runs in 62 Tests and 109 innings at an average of 36.20. He has 10 centuries and 19 fifties, with a highest score of 199.
KL Rahul is now chasing his third century of the series and his fifth in England. He could become the first Indian opener to score three centuries in a single series in England. He is also chasing Sunil Gavaskar’s record of 19 fifty-plus scores in SENA countries, having already registered 12 such scores. On Saturday in the 4th Test, he became only the second Asian batter after Gavaskar to score over 500 runs in a series in England.
The fifth and final Test match between England and India will be played at the Kennington Oval, London, from 31st July onwards and KL Rahul will remain unfazed with or without the attention and will be hoping to keep scoring runs and getting the job done for India.
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