Young opener KL Rahul has been named man of the match in the 2nd Test against Sri Lanka for making a fluent 1st innings hundred, which helped India in taking early advantage in the game.
Rahul, who was playing just fourth Test for India, built crucial partnerships with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, after India were rocked early by Sri Lanka pacers.
Rahul looked in fine touch throughout his innings and struck 13 boundaries and one six. This was Rahul’s second Test century; the first was against Australia in the Sydney Test.
Apart from contributing with the bat, Rahul also took the glovework in the 2nd innings, when regular wicketkeeper couldn’t take the field owing to a hamstring injury.
Rahul, who had kept at under-19 and List A levels, made his wicketkeeping debut at the first-class level. His movement behind the stumps were smooth and the team never felt the absence of regular keeper in the 2nd innings.
The Karnataka-born also took a superb catch on the first ball of the Day 5 morning, while diving to his right off the bowling of Umesh Yadav.
Man of the match, KL Rahul: I was a wicketkeeper till under-19. Then on I didn’t get chance to keep. I enjoy it. Pretty happy I took a good catch first ball. Pretty pleasing as a youngster to get two hundreds in four matches.
A lot to learn. I go more confident into the next Test. Just a very happy feeling firstly to get called up to play for the national team, and then to score two hundreds in four games.