India’s dashing opener KL Rahul made a comeback to international cricket after missing out on a few Tests in the grand home season 2016/17, ICC Champions Trophy 2017 and the first Test of the ongoing 3-match series between Sri Lanka and India, in the second Test.
KL Rahul is one of the most technically correct batsmen in India and fans and pundits rate him very highly. In fact, Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli has time and again said that KL is India’s first-choice opener and the moment he is 100% fit, he makes a direct entry into the playing XI.
After Abhinav Mukund made way for him, KL Rahul opened the innings with Shikhar Dhawan and batted cautiously at the start of the innings. He took his time to get used to the nature of the pitch, and looked very elegant in the middle.
Rahul played 82 balls and scored 57 runs. This was his sixth consecutive fifty in Test cricket. However, the manner in which he got dismissed was very disappointing. Rahul played a delivery Rangana Herath through covers and ran for a quick single. Cheteshwar Pujara, who was at the other end, reacted initially to Rahul’s call, but immediately backed off, leaving KL Rahul in the middle and nowhere to go.
As a result, Rahul was stranded in the middle of the pitch and Sri Lanka completed an easy run-out.
KL Rahul was very disappointed while walking back to the middle. He also signalled to Pujara that it was his call. This run-out reminded us of the infamous misunderstanding between Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya in the final of ICC Champions Trophy 2017. Rahul’s reaction was very similar to what Pandya gave in that match.
Rahul was batting well and looking set for a big score, which he badly needed because he hasn’t been able to convert his fifties into hundreds off late, but the unfortunate run-out resulted in his dismissal. He was very disappointed while walking back to the pavilion. Watch it here:
VIDEO: KL Rahul And Cheteshwar Pujara Repeat Jadeja-Pandya Run-Out
https://twitter.com/Cricvids1/status/893011547546558464
NOTE: The Cricket Lounge doesn’t have any right on the video. It was embedded from Twitter.
