Twitter Reactions: Splendid KL Rahul brings up his 7th Test ton in Centurion

Things have changed pretty quickly for KL Rahul in Test cricket. He had lost his place from the team in August 2019 due to poor form but was picked for the England tour to bat in the middle order following his splendid show in the limited-overs matches. However, Shubman Gill getting injured opened the door for him at the top of the order and he grabbed him with both hands scoring 315 runs in eight innings.

He was ruled out of the home Tests against New Zealand. However, the man got the vice-captaincy for South Africa tour with Rohit Sharma getting injured. It was never going to be easy in the rainbow nation but KL Rahul has easily continued his rich vein of form. The Boxing Day Test in Centurion commenced on Sunday (December 26) where India opted to bat first and Rahul has lived up to his expectations.

He has scored a splendid ton opening the innings and has looked reassured from ball one. Rahul had Mayank Agarwal partnering him for the opening wicket and the duo provided a great start for India. While the latter scored runs quickly to start with, Rahul took his time to get going before playing crunching cover drives and backfoot punches.

Wickets fall but Rahul stays strong

After not losing a wicket in the first session, India lost Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara off successive deliveries. At 117/2, South Africa were harbouring hopes of a comeback. But KL Rahul stood strong in the middle stitching another crucial stand with skipper Virat Kohli. Lungi Ngidi was bowling in full flow then while Kagiso Rabada also came back for a fresh spell.

Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen also bowled challenging lengths. But Rahul was so sure of his off stump as he kept leaving the ball well. Anything wide was punished and every boundary hit had ‘KL’ASS written all over it. He rushed into the 90s with a four and six off Keshav Maharaj but Virat Kohli getting out slowed him down yet again in the final session.

But Rahul’s concentration didn’t deter at all as he bided a little more time for runs eventually reaching his 7th ton in Test cricket. His knock has put India in a commanding position and India’s vice-captain would love to go on and convert this into a daddy hundred.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

SCG, P Sara Oval, London Oval, Sabina Park, Lord's and now Wanderers — Six out of KL Rahul's seven Test hundreds have been overseas.

This is good Test match batting and KL has once again proved he can be so effective across formats!

Brilliant.

— KSR (@KShriniwasRao) December 26, 2021

Brilliant from Rahul. A century in South Africa is special. Another step towards becoming the player we all knew he could be.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 26, 2021

Respect conditions, play late, stride forward, weight transfer, dot balls, drives … kl rahul is holding online batting class please watch… what a Fantastic knock👏👏👏 @klrahul11 #INDvsSA

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) December 26, 2021

This is a fantastic knock from @klrahul11 patience and application. See the number of balls he left. First test of an overseas series and to get a century is super special. Well played.

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) December 26, 2021

💯

A phenomenal century by @klrahul11 here at the SuperSport Park.

This is his 7th Test ton 👏👏#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/mQ4Rfnd8UX

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 26, 2021

Naam Rahul aur kaam bhi Rahul Wala! Well done @klrahul11 for another overseas ton. #KLRahul #INDvSA #INDvsSA

— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) December 26, 2021

He has been so so good across all format @klrahul11 brilliant 100 in difficult condition! #INDvsSA

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) December 26, 2021

Welcome to the exclusive club of Indian openers with a Test hundred in SA @klrahul11 😁 very well played 👏🏼 #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/Fjz2RRA4aA

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) December 26, 2021

A resounding comeback for KL Rahul in Test cricket.

📸: Disney+Hotstar#SAvIND #SouthAfrica #India #KLRahul pic.twitter.com/JvkbwL8t6T

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) December 26, 2021

As a colleague of mine would say: "Always a pleasure, never a chore" watching a K L Rahul century. #Secure

— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) December 26, 2021

KL Rahul became the second Indian opener to score Test century in South Africa after Wasim Jaffer. #KLRahul #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/WRLSBQ8nTR

— Shruti (@S_hru_tea) December 26, 2021

This has been one of the most mature knocks from KL Rahul.

Go on and make it a daddy one now lad.#SAvsIND

— BeardedDragon (@yashasva) December 26, 2021

Superb century by @klrahul11, built on patience, sound technique and fantastic strokes. Playing according to the situation is the hallmark of quality batsmen. He’s done that

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) December 26, 2021

KL Rahul has won back more than what he was guilty of losing out on. And this has been a pugnacious knock, pacing his 100 💯 over the three sessions: survive survive survive till you get on top of the conditions @klrahul11 #INDvsSA

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) December 26, 2021

quite something to end a two year test hiatus with a hundred at lords and then on boxing day! #SAvsIND

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) December 26, 2021