KL Rahul completes 8,000 runs in international cricket on Day 3 of IND vs BAN 2024 1st Test
Team India batter KL Rahul completed 8,000 runs in international cricket on Day 3 of the first Test against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday, September 21. The 32-year-old scored an unbeaten 22 off 19 in India's second innings, a breezy cameo that included four fours.
The hosts continued their domination over Bangladesh in the Chepauk Test on Day 3. Resuming their second innings on 81-3, India declared on 287-4 as Shubman Gill (119*) and Rishabh Pant (109) struck hundreds. After the latter's dismissal, Rahul came in and added an unbroken 53 for the fifth wicket with Gill.
During the course of his knock, the Karnataka batter also crossed the 8,000-run mark in international cricket. The right-handed batter now has 8,017 runs in 200 matches across the three formats of the game, averaging 39.49, with 17 hundreds and 54 half-centuries.
The 32-year-old has played 51 Tests and has notched up 2,901 runs in the format at an average of 34.12, with eight centuries and 14 fifties. Looking at his ODI career, he has 2,851 runs in 77 games at an average of 49.15 and a strike rate of 87.56, with seven tons and 18 half-centuries. Rahul has featured in 72 T20Is and has 2,265 runs at a strike rate of 139.12, with two hundreds and 22 fifties.
The right-handed batter is the 17th cricketer to cross the 8,000-run mark in international cricket for India, a list lead by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar (34,357). Suresh Raina narrowly missed out on the landmark. The former southpaw ended his international career with 7,988 runs for India in 322 matches.
"KL Rahul should have been given a chance to find his form" - Basit Ali
While India declared with huge lead of 514 in the Chennai Test against Bangladesh, former Pakistan batter Basit Ali reckons that Rohit Sharma should have asked his team to carry on batting. According to Basit, India made a mistake by not allowing Rahul a chance to get back his form.
"India declaring their innings was a bad decision. KL Rahul should have been given a chance to find his form since he didn't score big runs in the Duleep Trophy. India would have benefited more if Rahul scored 70-80 runs here because he bats at a position which will be crucial in Australia," the former cricketer said on his YouTube channel.
Before his cameo in the second innings, Rahul struggled in the first essay, scoring 16 off 52 balls. The right-hander scored 37 and 57 in a Duleep Trophy match played ahead of the Chennai Test. Before that, he failed in the one-day series held in Sri Lanka as well.