KL Rahul put on a show with the bat as India finished the opening day of the Centurion Test against South Africa in a commanding position.
Opening the innings, Rahul smashed 122 not out to take the visitors to 272/3 at the close of play on Day 1.
The right-hander put on 117 runs for the first wicket with Mayank Agarwal (60) and followed it up with 82-run stand with skipper Virat Kohli (35) and then an unbroken 73-run partnership with Ajinkya Rahane (40*).
Speaking after the day’s play, Rahul said he has surprised himself with how calm he was on Day 1 of the ongoing Centurion Test.
"It is truly special, every hundred really takes something out of you and gives you joy. There are so many emotions you go through when you score a hundred. You bat for 6-7 hours. Those are the kind of innings that stand out and as players we really cherish these. This is what is expected out of me," Rahul told BCCI.TV.
"Once I got off to a good start, I started enjoying my batting and I did not think too far ahead."
The key aspect about KL Rahul’s knock was his judgement while leaving the deliveries outside the off-stump. He curbed his natural instinct to bat out the entire day, playing 248 balls in his unbeaten innings and hitting 16 fours and 1 six.
"Preparation has been really good. All the batters that batted on day one were really focused. I just try to stay in the moment when I am out there in the middle. I have surprised myself with how calm I have been. My focus has always been to stay in the moment and react to the ball that is bowled. Really happy that I could finish the day on a good note," said Rahul.
It was KL Rahul’s seventh century in the longest format and he has a great chance to convert it into his maiden Test double ton. His highest score in Test cricket so far is 199, which came against England at Chepauk in 2016.
