KL Rahul Joins Cricketing Legends: Surpasses Kohli, Enters Elite Run-Scoring Club in Manchester Test

KL Rahul achieved a significant milestone on the opening day of the fourth Test between India and England at Old Trafford, Manchester. The 32-year-old opener surpassed Virat Kohli’s tally of 976 Test runs against England in England, becoming only the fourth Indian batter to accumulate over 1000 runs in Tests against the English on their home soil.

RAHUL’S CONSISTENT FORM SHINES THROUGH

Rahul’s remarkable knock on Day 1 not only took him past Kohli but also propelled him into an elite group of Indian cricketers. He now joins cricketing giants like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar in the prestigious club of Indian batters with over 1000 Test runs in England.

Rahul, already boasting two centuries on this tour one at Edgbaston and another at Lord’s has been in exceptional form throughout the series. His total runs on this tour now exceed 400, marking him as one of India’s most dependable batters in a series that has seen its fair share of challenges.

THE ELITE COMPANY

Rahul’s milestone places him behind only Sachin Tendulkar (1575 runs), Rahul Dravid (1376 runs), and Sunil Gavaskar (1152 runs) in terms of the most Test runs by an Indian in England. His composed and consistent performances, particularly in difficult conditions, have been crucial for India, who are currently trailing 1-2 in the five-match series.

THE CONTEXT OF THE MATCH

India were put to the test early when England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bowl first on a pitch with a slight green tinge at Old Trafford. Despite challenging conditions, KL Rahul’s resilience at the crease was a testament to his skill and temperament. Alongside fellow opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rahul weathered the early storm from England's pace attack.

CHANGES IN INDIA’S LINE-UP

India made three changes to their playing XI for this Test. Anshul Kamboj, a 23-year-old right-arm fast bowler from Haryana, earned his maiden Test cap, replacing the injured Akash Deep. Sai Sudharsan came in for Karun Nair, and all-rounder Shardul Thakur returned to the side, replacing Nitish Kumar Reddy.

Kamboj’s inclusion was a surprise over the more experienced Prasidh Krishna, but his recent performances in training had impressed both the team management and selector Gautam Gambhir.

RAHUL’S KEY ROLE IN THE SERIES

KL Rahul's composed and gritty performances have been a highlight of India’s batting on this tour, especially in challenging situations. His century at Edgbaston was a stabilizing knock when wickets fell at the other end, and his second-century at Lord’s was similarly invaluable.

With Rahul’s form at the top of the order, India will be hoping he can continue his anchor role and lead them to a strong finish in the series. The team is aiming to level the series 2-2 and take it to a decider at The Oval, with Rahul’s contributions key to that ambition.