Indian opening batter KL Rahul has equaled the record for most 50+ scores by an Indian opener in SENA countries, reaching 9 half-centuries, matching the tallies of Virender Sehwag and Murali Vijay. He now trails only Sunil Gavaskar, who leads with 19 fifties.
The reliable Rahul rose to the occasion, bringing up his first fifty of the series in the second innings of the first Test against England. He began positively with frequent boundaries in the final session of Day 3.
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Rahul’s Gritty Fifty Puts Him Alongside Sehwag and Vijay in SENA Milestone
On the following day, after losing captain Shubman Gill early, Rahul shifted gears, playing sensibly and holding firm at one end to reach a gritty fifty at Headingley. He brought up the milestone in the 29th over and raised his bat in acknowledgment of the crowd.
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This crucial knock marked his 18th fifty overall in Test cricket and his 9th as an opener in overseas SENA conditions. With this, Rahul joins Sehwag and Vijay in the record books and is now just ten fifties behind the legendary Gavaskar.
Most fifties by an Indian opener in SENA Countries
19 - Sunil Gavaskar in 57 innings
9* - KL Rahul in 42 innings
9 - Murali Vijay in 42 innings
9 - Virender Sehwag in 49 innings
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Rahul, Pant Pile On the Pressure as India Push Past 270-Run Lead
As the innings progressed, Rahul converted his milestone fifty into a composed century off 202 balls. He is currently going strong alongside Rishabh Pant, who also brought up a second century in the match. Their partnership has helped India stretch their lead beyond 270 runs and is going strong. After a sensible session before lunch, India shifted gears, increasing their scoring rate and regularly finding the boundary, putting the England bowlers under pressure.
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India is now eyeing a total above 350 to set a formidable target. While England have successfully chased scores over 350 at Headingley in the past, India will look to push the total beyond that mark.
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