Watch: KL Rahul in disbelief after Chris Woakes rattles his stumps in 2nd Test
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Indian opener KL Rahul was bowled by English pacer Chris Woakes in the 9th over of the Edgbaston Test, as the right-handed batter returned to the hut having scored 2 runs off 26 balls.
India and England are taking on each other for the second test of the anticipated 5-match series between the two nations, which marks the first season of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, after a change from its initial name.
After a loss at Headingley, the visitors have now moved to Edgbaston and have been asked by the English skipper to bat first. English pacer Chris Woakes is well acquainted with the conditions at Birmingham; hence, he has troubled the Indian batters early on Day 1.
Chris Woakes has returned to his home ground at Birmingham, a ground where he has played most of his first-class cricket, and he looks to shine in the match. Woakes has been seen targeting the off-stump line since morning.
Watch: Chris Woakes removes KL Rahul in the 2nd Test, India star in disbelief
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Woakes has been accurate, holding on to the outside off-stump line. He dismissed KL Rahul with a bit shorter delivery that nipped back sharply, only for the Indian batter to misjudge it and bring the bat down late.
The ball took an underedge off the bat and went on to hit the stumps. KL Rahul got dismissed for 2 runs off 26 balls, and Chris Woakes drew first blood for England.
Karun Nair comes in as India's new no. 3 in Tests
Indian batsman Karun Nair has been in talks ever since his comeback to the Indian team. Even before his comeback, he was a much-discussed player, citing his stunning domestic performances.
However, this season marked his return to the IPL as well, since the batter featured in some games for the Delhi Capitals and played some invaluable knocks. Being picked for the first test, Nair returned for the Baggy Blue, ending his exile of 8 years from the side.
However, on his return test, the batter could not mark anything special, as he was dismissed for a duck in the first innings and backed in with a 20 in the second innings. Nair, who was entrusted with the role of anchoring India's lower-order batting, failed miserably in it.
Now marking KL Rahul's Delhi Capitals teammates' exit, he takes on the English bowlers and has looked confident since his arrival, playing some wonderful drives through the off-side.
KL Rahul will have to be more reliable, suggested Sanjay Manjrekar before the Edgbaston test
Former Indian veteran Sanjay Manjrekar had earlier suggested that after his twin hundreds, Rishabh Pant will have his confidence at an all-time high and is expected to excel in the second test as well. However, he criticized KL Rahul and urged him not to be a one-hundred-wonder.
No one can doubt KL Rahul's ability to score runs for India at the top of the Indian batting innings, while his temperament is also much appreciated in the longest format of the game. However, Rahul's major concern has been his lack of consistency.
Abiding by his norms, Rahul has once again fallen too quickly, coming from a historic hundred in the second innings of the Leeds test.
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KL Rahul Chris Woakes India vs England India National Cricket Team England National Cricket Team ICC World Test Championship IND vs ENG
