By: Tarish Bhatt
India vs West Indies Score: Day 1
KL Rahul: 75 not out (114 balls), 4 x 10 | Strike Rate: 65.78
View KL Rahul’s full scorecard HERE.
After warming the bench against South Africa, KL Rahul was waiting for his opportunity. He was overlooked for the 1st Test, despite being in rich form. Rahul, meanwhile, continued working hard, and it ultimately paid dividend.
The Indian opener scored an unbeaten fifty on the opening day of the 2nd Test in Jamaica. His innings ensured early advantage for the Indian team on the first day itself. At stumps he was batting with Cheteshwar Pujara.
Rahul replaced Murali Vijay into the playing XI. Vijay had a sore finger from which he failed to recover in time. But, Rahul filled in pretty nicely, and played a fluent innings for the Indian team.
“We all know that he’s a quality cricketer,” Ashwin said. “He’s made a lot of runs in first-class cricket. He has pretty much arrived at this level. Beforehand, when he made hundreds for us, it has been crucial knocks. He made one in Sri Lanka which is very very memorable.”
“As a matter of fact, the way he played in the IPL, it’s just an extension,” he concluded. “Everybody wants Rahul to do well, which is a big tick for him. He keeps batting all the time and it’s not a surprise that he’s made runs and I’m very happy for him.”
India are now trailing by just 70 runs at the Sabina Park. They have nine wickets in hands, and two set batsmen in the middle. Saving this Test, leave alone winning, is going to be a gigantic task for Jason Holder’s men.
