While the 14 fours and 4 sixes that KL Rahul hit were crucial to his century in Centurion, another crucial part of his hundred was the sneaky, quick single that he stole from the South African wicket-keeper Kyle Verreynne, which made pacer Gerald Coetzee furious.
On Wednesday, at the Supersport Park against South Africa, KL Rahul notched up his 8th Test century, his 6th outside Asia and second in a row in Centurion. Rahul brought his hundred up with a mighty six off the bowling of Coetzee on the last ball of the 66th over of India’s innings.
Also important was the one run in bye that Rahul and number 11 batsman Prasidh Krishna sneaked on the 3rd ball of the over.
With Rahul on 95* at the non-striker’s end, Coetzee had dismissed number 10 batter Mohammed Siraj on the first ball of the over. Prasidh Krishna faced a couple of balls, the second on which he and KL Rahul sneaked a single off some poor game awareness of wicket-keeper Kyle Verreynne.
Looking for a yorker, Coetzee bowled down the legside to Krishna and the wicketkeeper calmly collected it. As the keeper turned toward slip to give the slip fielder the ball, KL Rahul sprinted and Krishna, too, left his crease. Before Verreynne could understand what had just happened, Rahul had crossed the batting crease and got a bye, importantly, getting back the strike.
Gerald Coetzee, who saw this event unfold, was left livid with Verreynne’s carelessness of the proceeding.
Watch: KL Rahul steals a single from wicketkeeper Verreynne leaving Coetzee furious
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Meanwhile, former India batting legend Sunil Gavaskar was so impressed with Rahul’s century – considering the tough pitch and conditions for batters, the Protea bowling attack, and India losing early wickets – that Gavaskar hailed this as one of the top 10 Test innings by an Indian batsman he’s ever seen.
Sunil Gavaskar said on Star Sports: “I have been watching cricket since 50 years, I can surely say this hundred by Rahul is in the Top 10 in the Indian history of Tests.”
Also Read: IND vs SA: “This Hundred By KL Rahul Is In Top 10 Centuries In India’s History” – Sunil Gavaskar
