KL Rahul: The Unsung Hero of India's Draw Against England

KL Rahul's Remarkable Performance in Manchester Test

In Manchester, former all-rounder Irfan Pathan has praised KL Rahul for his crucial role in India's hard-fought draw during the fourth Test against England.

Rahul, a key player in a relatively inexperienced Indian squad, stepped up significantly in the absence of star batsmen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. He faced an impressive 328 balls, contributing to the team's total of 257.1 overs throughout the match.

Despite his resilience, Rahul was unable to convert his solid starts into centuries, falling short by just 10 runs in the second innings after being dismissed by England's captain Ben Stokes.

Pathan noted on his YouTube channel, “KL Rahul faced 98 balls in the first innings and over 200 in the second, playing a pivotal role in securing the draw. Although he didn’t score a century, his contributions were vital. Other players like Gill, Washington Sundar, and Ravindra Jadeja did score centuries.”

He further emphasized Rahul's importance, stating, “KL Rahul has emerged as a crucial player for the Indian Test team in recent years. He carries the responsibility of a senior player. If leaving the ball is an art, then Rahul is undoubtedly the artist.”

Rahul has made history by becoming the second Asian opener to score over 500 runs in a Test series in England, following the legendary Sunil Gavaskar. He is also the second visiting opener in the 21st century to achieve this feat, after Graeme Smith.

Throughout the four Tests, the 33-year-old has amassed 511 runs at an impressive average of 63.87, with a strike rate of 51.20, including two centuries and two half-centuries.