Manchester, July 18: With the fourth Test between India and England just days away, opener KL Rahul is on the brink of joining an elite club of Indian batters who have amassed 1,000 or more Test runs on English soil.
The much-anticipated match is set to begin at Old Trafford, Manchester on July 23, with the hosts leading the five-match series 2-1.
Rahul, who has displayed remarkable form throughout the tour, needs just 11 more runs to reach the coveted four-figure mark in Tests in England.
Currently, he has 989 runs from 12 Tests and 24 innings at an average of 41.20, including four centuries and two fifties. His highest score in England stands at 149.
Should he cross the 1,000-run milestone, Rahul will become only the fourth Indian batter to do so, joining the ranks of three cricketing legends: Sachin Tendulkar – 1,575 runs in 17 Tests at an average of 54.31; Rahul Dravid – 1,376 runs in 13 Tests at an average of 68.80; Sunil Gavaskar – 1,152 runs in 16 Tests at an average of 41.14
Despite India’s disappointing defeat at Lord’s in the third Test, Rahul’s gritty century at the iconic venue—his second there—stood out as a testament to his reliability and form.
In the current series, Rahul has notched up 375 runs in three Tests and six innings, averaging 62.50 with two centuries and a half-century, including a best of 137. He is presently the fourth-highest run-scorer in the series.As the teams gear up for the crucial fourth Test in Manchester, all eyes will be on Rahul—not just for his potential milestone, but for the hope he brings to India’s batting order in their bid to level the series. (Agencies)
