Perth [Australia]: KL Rahul, the Indian batter, reached the milestone of 3,000 Test runs during the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy match against Australia on Thursday. He achieved this feat in the first innings, scoring a composed 26 runs off 74 balls with three boundaries before being controversially dismissed by Mitchell Starc. The debate arose from whether the sound detected by the snickometer was from the ball hitting his bat or from his bat hitting his pad. Ultimately, third umpire Richard Illingworth ruled him out, concluding the ball had contacted the bat.
In his Test career spanning 54 matches, Rahul has amassed a total of 3,007 runs at an average of 33.78, including eight centuries and 15 fifties across 92 innings, with his highest score being 199. His impressive centuries in challenging conditions in Australia, South Africa, and England showcase his potential as a reliable performer overseas. However, he has struggled with consistency, which has sometimes played against him.
The current year has seen Rahul have a mixed performance, accumulating 260 runs in six matches and nine innings at an average of 32.50, with a best score of 86 and two half-centuries to his name.
In the ongoing match, India won the toss and opted to bat first, ending the first session at 51/4, with Rishabh Pant (10*) and Dhruv Jurel (4*) not out. Starc and Josh Hazlewood made early inroads, dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal (0), Devdutt Padikkal (0), and Virat Kohli (5).
India’s Playing XI: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (w), Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah (c), Mohammed Siraj.
Australia’s Playing XI: Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (w), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.