India batting legend Sachin Tendulkar lauded KL Rahul for his scintillating century in the first innings of the ongoing first Test between South Africa and India being played in Centurion. India was asked to bat first by Temba Bavuma after he won the toss.
Kagiso Rabada’s five-wicket haul including the scalps of Rohit Sharma (5), Virat Kohli (38), Shreyas Iyer (31), Shardul Thakur (24), and R Ashwin (8) had put India under pressure on day one. India managed to make 208/8 from 121/6 at the end of the day’s play. Most of it was thanks to KL Rahul, who remained unbeaten on 70.
On day two, Rahul took charge of the situation and added 27 runs with Jasprit Bumrah and 47 crucial runs with Mohammed Siraj. This took India to a decent total of 245 runs. Rahul brought up his century with a six off Gerald Coetzee and was the last man out for 101 runs with 14 fours and 4 sixes.
His knock got him adulation from Sachin Tendulkar, who took to social media to laud his brilliant century.
“Well played @klrahul. What impressed me was his clarity of thought. His footwork looked precise and assured, and that happens when a batter is thinking right. This century is crucial in the context of this Test. India would be happy with 245 considering where they were at one stage yesterday. Nandre Burger and @GeraldCoetzee62 look like a good addition to the South African bowling line-up. I feel South Africa won't be too happy with their bowling performance considering the conditions,” Tendulkar posted on X.
