India managed to post 245 in their opening innings of the first Test against South Africa, thanks to a brilliant counter-attacking century from KL Rahul. Here are the 3 best Test scores by an Indian wicketkeeper in South Africa.
3 best Test scores by an Indian wicketkeeper in South Africa
Rahul, who was playing a new role as a wicketkeeper-batter at No. 6, appeared to be in perfect command of the proceedings at Centurion’s Supersport Park.
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After surviving the early wave, the Karnataka batsman went on to hit one of the best Test hundreds by an Indian player in recent memory.
Rahul, who has rarely held wickets in first-class or Test cricket, seized the opportunity and made it his own, at least till Rishabh Pant returned.
India were in danger on Day 1 after being put into bat by South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma, as the home team’s seamers created serious anxiety.
Despite not being a regular keeper, Rahul has provided the appropriate balance to the team in Rishabh Pant’s absence. There are the 3 best Test scores by an Indian wicketkeeper in South Africa.
1. MS Dhoni turns 90 in Centurion in December 2010
MS Dhoni, one of the greatest wicketkeeper-batters in cricket history, produced a magnificent 90 against the Proteas during India’s 2010-11 trip to the rainbow nation.
India eventually lost the Test by an innings and 25 runs. Nonetheless, Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar provided thrilling strokeplay throughout India’s second innings.
India were swept out for 136 in the first innings, with to Morne Morkel’s fifer, as South Africa took control of the game from the start.
South Africa posted a mammoth 620 in their first innings thanks to centuries from Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, and AB de Villiers.
2. Rishabh Pant will be 100 in Cape Town in January 2022
Rishabh Pant has already produced some of the best innings by an Indian batsman in his very short Test career.
He is also the first Indian wicketkeeper to have scored a Test century in England, Australia, and South Africa.
Pant went on to smash a stunning century in extremely challenging circumstances at Newlands in Cape Town in January 2022.
The 94-run partnership ended when Virat Kohli nicked an away swinger from Lungi Ngidi to the slip cordon, triggering a collapse.
He hit some stunning shots that exuded grace and confidence. His century came in 139 deliveries and included six fours and four sixes.
3. December 2023, KL Rahul – 101 at Centurion
KL Rahul’s knock in the first Test of the upcoming series against South Africa would undoubtedly go down as one of the finest by an Indian hitter in foreign circumstances.
When KL Rahul joined Virat Kohli in the middle, South Africa’s bowlers had reduced India to 92/4. While he has been assigned as India’s bottom middle-order hitter in One-Day Internationals.
He formed a significant alliance with Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Siraj, and he was instrumental in getting India close to 250 points.
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Nandre Burger’s stunning inswinging delivery ultimately castled Rahul, but he had already established his dominance on the contest.
His innings of 101 came in 137 deliveries and included 14 fours and four sixes.