India concluded Day 1 of the first Test against South Africa in Centurion, managing 208/8 in just 59 overs of a rain-affected day. KL Rahul, taking on the role of wicketkeeper for the first time, emerged as a standout performer. Batting at No. 6, the Karnataka cricketer displayed resilience in challenging conditions, guiding India through a tough day.
Remaining unbeaten with a score of 70 off 105 balls, KL Rahul forged crucial partnerships with Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj. Sanjay Bangar, former India batting coach, commended Rahul’s innings at the end of the day. Bangar highlighted the significance of Rahul’s past experience as a Test opener, emphasizing its value in such situations.
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“It’s the overall gambit of skills that he possesses. He’s very good against the new ball, having done that for the majority of his Test career. 25 Test innings as an opener is going to be worth its weight in gold. That will come in handy but that was not the case today,” expressed Sanjay Bangar in an interview with Star Sports.
Sanjay Bangar elaborated on the benefits of batting in various positions, praising Rahul’s adaptability. He particularly acknowledged Rahul’s judgment outside the off-stump, emphasizing its crucial role in constructing a high-quality innings. According to Bangar, the experience of batting in different positions contributes to making a player well-rounded and enhances their understanding of different game situations.
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“Just the fact that he’s been shuffled from number 1 to number 6, it actually helps your understanding of the game as well. When you bat at multiple positions, it makes you a well-rounded player. You understand situations very well. His judgement outside the off-stump was impeccable, which helped him construct the innings of this quality,” Sanjay Bangar added.
On the bowling front, South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada shone with a maiden five-wicket haul against India, securing his 14th overall. Debutant Nandre Burger claimed a couple of wickets, while Marco Jansen and Jasprit Bumrah contributed with one wicket each.
