India’s sensational opener KL Rahul scripted history on Sunday as he smashed his maiden Test century in South Africa in the ongoing first test match at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. The star opener was ruled out of the recent home Tests against New Zealand. However, he was promoted as the vice-captain of the Indian side for the South Africa tour with Rohit Sharma getting injured.
KL Rahul lived up to the expectations of the fans and team management as he smashed a stunning century to become only the second opener after Wasim Jaffer from the Indian team, to score a century in South Africa. Wasim Jaffer had scored a century during the Capetown Test in 2006-2007. He had stitched 153 runs with Dinesh Karthik for the first wicket, who smashed 63 runs.
KL Rahul also stitched a stunning partnership with Mayank Agarwal and together they put on 83 runs for the opening wicket before Lunch was taken on an overcast morning on Sunday. While Mayank started smashing the bowlers from the word go, on the other hand, Rahul took his time to get going before playing crunching cover drives and backfoot punches.
After a brilliant first session, team India lost Mayank Agarwal and Pujara off successive deliveries. But Rahul stood strong in the middle and didn’t let the pressure get to his head. He stitched another crucial stand with skipper Virat Kohli. Soon, Kohli’s dismissal slowed him down in the final session of the day but Rahul maintained his focus as he added some more runs eventually reaching his 7th century in the longest format of the game.
Meanwhile, social media has been buzzing with tweets hailing the sensational performance by KL Rahul. From cricketers, experts to fans, everyone took to Twitter to hail the brilliance of Rahul.
Here, check out the reactions of Twitterati on this:
SCG, P Sara Oval, London Oval, Sabina Park, Lord’s and now Wanderers — Six out of KL Rahul’s seven Test hundreds have been overseas.
This is good Test match batting and KL has once again proved he can be so effective across formats!
Brilliant.
— KSR (@KShriniwasRao) December 26, 2021
Respect conditions, play late, stride forward, weight transfer, dot balls, drives … kl rahul is holding online batting class please watch… what a Fantastic knock??? @klrahul11 #INDvsSA
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) December 26, 2021
Brilliant from Rahul. A century in South Africa is special. Another step towards becoming the player we all knew he could be.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 26, 2021
Naam Rahul aur kaam bhi Rahul Wala! Well done @klrahul11 for another overseas ton. #KLRahul #INDvSA #INDvsSA
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) December 26, 2021
quite something to end a two year test hiatus with a hundred at lords and then on boxing day! #SAvsIND
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) December 26, 2021
He has been so so good across all format @klrahul11 brilliant 100 in difficult condition! #INDvsSA
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) December 26, 2021
Welcome to the exclusive club of Indian openers with a Test hundred in SA @klrahul11 ? very well played ?? #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/Fjz2RRA4aA
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) December 26, 2021
This has been one of the most mature knocks from KL Rahul.
Go on and make it a daddy one now lad.#SAvsIND
— BeardedDragon (@yashasva) December 26, 2021
Superb century by @klrahul11, built on patience, sound technique and fantastic strokes. Playing according to the situation is the hallmark of quality batsmen. He’s done that
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) December 26, 2021
KL Rahul has won back more than what he was guilty of losing out on. And this has been a pugnacious knock, pacing his 100 ? over the three sessions: survive survive survive till you get on top of the conditions @klrahul11 #INDvsSA
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) December 26, 2021
Also Read: Here’s Why KL Rahul And Mayank Agarwal’s Opening Partnership Is Very Special
