KL Rahul Elated After Finally Getting An Opportunity To Play A Test Match For India

Indian opener KL Rahul was overjoyed after finally getting a chance to play for the national side in the longest format of the game. He was on the sidelines for quite a while after a dip in form but made the most of the chance given against England in the first Test by scoring a composed 84 in the first innings.

In conditions where the ball was venomously moving around, Rahul held fort at one end while wickets tumbled at the other. His partnership with Rishabh Pant first, and then with Ravindra Jadeja set India up with a 95-run lead.

Rahul’s path back into the playing XI was a lucky one. First-choice opener Shubman Gill got injured prior to the series so he was sent back home. His replacement, Mayank Agarwal, was struck on the head by Mohammad Siraj which ruled him out of the first Test. Talking about the frustrations he endured after warming the bench in Australia and most of the Tests in India, Rahul said:

“From the last 2-3 series (India’s tour of Australia 2020-21 and England’s tour of India 2021), I have been sitting outside. The team was doing really well and I was very happy to be part of the team and seeing how we were beating teams in India and then Australia. So it was great to be part of it, but also very frustrating that opportunities weren’t coming,” KL Rahul added.

“As a player, you want to be in the middle and challenge yourself” – KL Rahul

The previous time Rahul toured England back in 2018, he had a horrendous time. A string of low scores in the first nine innings was somewhat salvaged by a scintillating 149-run knock in the final Test. After that, his chances came few and far in between. Having finally gotten to bat in the position he likes, Rahul was very happy to have contributed to the team’s cause at Trent Bridge.

“It was only practice, practice and practice and as a player, you want to be in the middle and want to challenge yourself. So I kept waiting for my opportunity, and I am very happy that it came in England. I was just looking forward to it and I am happy that opportunity came and in the first match and I gave a good contribution for the team.“

Although Mayank Agarwal may be available for selection from the next Test onwards, Virat Kohli and co. are likely to stick with the same team for the second Test at Lord’s.