KL Rahul batted impeccably against South Africa on the first day of the Boxing Day Test at Centurion. The Indian vice-captain played a memorable innings of 122 runs from 248 balls. The young Indian opener hit 16 fours and a six in his marvelous career.
The Indian team is in a good position against South Africa in the first Test at Centurion, courtesy of KL Rahul’s impeccable century. KL Rahul set multiple records after scoring a century against South African team.
2nd Indian opening batsman ever to score Hundred in South Africa
He became the second ever Indian opening batsman to score a century on South African soil. Wasim Jaffar scored is the first one to do so in 2007, that was in Cape Town, whereas Rahul scored his century in Centurion.
3rd Indian batsman ever to score Hundred in SuperSport Park in Centurion
The SuperSport Park in Centurion is called the Mecca of South African cricket. Earlier, two Indian cricketers had scored century on this ground, they are the legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar and the current captain of the Indian Test team Virat Kohli. Rahul is now the third batsman to do so.
3rd Opening batsman to score a Hundred in South Africa
KL Rahul became the third opening batsman from the touring country to score a century on South African soil. Earlier, Australian opener David Warner and West Indies opener Chris Gayle had set the record.
KL Rahul has now scored Hundred in 6 different Countries
With this, Rahul has scored a total of 7 Test centuries. Rahul has scored two Test centuries in England and one each in India, Australia, Sri Lanka, West Indies and South Africa.
KL Rahul is scoring a century wherever he has played in his short 41-Test career. In terms of scoring centuries in 5 continents, KL Rahul has scored 2 Test centuries each in Asia and Europe.
Most Hundreds outside the subcontinent for an Indian opening batsman
KL Rahul also holds the record for most centuries as an Indian opener outside the subcontinent. Outside the subcontinent, Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar has scored the most centuries. KL Rahul is now in second place. In third place is Virender Sehwag.
India vs South Africa 1st Test 2021
KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal came down to open at Centurion and put on a 116-run opening partnership. As the third opening pair in the history of Indian cricket, they shared a century partnership on South African soil. Earlier, in 2007, Wasim Jaffar and Dinesh Karthik had a partnership and in 2010, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir had a partnership of hundred or more.
