Indian cricket star KL Rahul celebrated his latest milestone with a special twist: his century against West Indies in Ahmedabad was dedicated to his daughter. After grinding out 100 runs off 197 balls with 12 fours on Day 2 of the Test, Rahul opened up about how playing in tough conditions abroad has supercharged his confidence.
Rahul, who shone brightly during India’s tour of England earlier this year, called that series a game-changer. He finished as the third-highest run-scorer with 532 runs in 10 innings at an average of 53.20, including two centuries and two fifties. “Really enjoyed my batting. Playing in different conditions. England was fun. Obviously, getting runs there gives you a lot of confidence,” Rahul said after stumps. Coming into this match with some momentum helped, especially after a break that left him feeling fresher.
The Ahmedabad pitch tested everyone’s stamina, but Rahul thrived in the challenge. He admitted the physical demands were tough—echoing the even harsher conditions from a recent India A game. “It’s been really challenging physically, but good to be out in the middle,” he added. No nerves for him, though; a match last week kept him sharp despite a 5-6 week gap from international cricket. “Just to get back into that rhythm… coming in day after day for 4-5 days is a bit of a challenge,” he explained.
This knock marks Rahul’s first home Test century since 2016, when he smashed 199 against England in Chennai. It’s only his second at home overall, ending a whopping 3,211-day wait—the longest gap between home centuries for any Indian batter. That puts him in rare company among India’s Test openers. With 10 or more centuries now, Rahul joins Sunil Gavaskar (33), Virender Sehwag (22), and Murali Vijay (12) in the elite club. Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma each have nine, according to Wisden.
Without regulars like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin on the England tour, Rahul stepped up as a mentor to the youngsters—and delivered big. This year has been his strongest in Tests yet: 649 runs in seven matches across 13 innings, averaging 54.08, with three centuries, two fifties, and a top score of 137. As India eyes a strong home season, Rahul looks ready to dominate.
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