Lord’s Test: KL Rahul slams ton, India make strong start

• Shubham
• 12 August, 2021

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By: Shubham Ghosh

India opener KL Rahul slammed his sixth Test hundred on Thursday (12) to put his side in the driver’s seat in the second Test against England at Lord’s Cricket Ground. The right-handed batsman was not out on 127 off 248 balls at stumps on Day 1 as India ended on 276 for 3. It was Rahul’s third hundred against the Three Lions in the long format. Ajinkya Rahane was the other unbeaten batsman on one off 22 deliveries.

India never let their guard down after England captain Joe Root won the toss and asked Virat Kohli’s team to bat first. The start was delayed by 15 minutes because of early morning rain and a later disruption saw the players taking an early lunch after 18.4 hours. However, India’s opening duo Rohit Sharma (83 off 145) and Rahul stood like rocks, leaving the home team bowlers frustrated. They put on 126 runs in 43.4 overs when James Anderson bowled Sharma.

Rahul then added 26 runs with Cheteshwar Pujara who was also picked by Anderson after scoring only nine of 23. After Pujara departed, Rahul was joined by Kohli and the pair added 117 for the third wicket to take the visitors past 260. Kohli, who fell for a golden duck in the only innings that India batted in the drawn first Test at Trent Bridge, scored 42 off 103 balls before falling to Ollie Robinson.

England made three changes to their side because of issues with form and fitness. Veteran James Anderson was included in the playing XI in the last minute as he was declared fit. He gave the Three Lions their first success by castling Sharma, who slammed his 13th Test half-century, in his 10th over. Anderson also took the wicket of Pujara. His opening partner Robinson (Stuart Broad has been ruled out of the series owing to a calf muscle tear), who took a fifer in Nottingham, did not get any wicket though his figures were economic.

Young batsman Haseeb Hameed replaced Zak Crawley while all-rounder Moeen Ali came in the place of Dan Lawrence. India made one change to their side with the experienced Ishant Sharma coming into the place of Shardul Thakur who was ruled out because of a hamstring injury.

Brief score: India 276 for 3 in 90 overs at stumps on Day 1 (KL Rahul 127 not out, Rohit Sharma 83, Virat Kohli 42, James Anderson 2 for 52) vs England