As India goals to safe a vital sequence lead within the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in opposition to Australia in the course of the third Take a look at on the Melbourne Cricket Floor (MCG), all eyes might be on Indian opener KL Rahul, who has been in distinctive type in a sequence that has largely been difficult for Indian batters. The third Take a look at, scheduled to start on December 26, might be a Boxing Day affair. The sequence is presently tied at 1-1. KL Rahul, promoted to the opening slot this sequence after skipper Rohit Sharma opted to play within the center order following the delivery of his second little one, has appeared extraordinarily composed and assured in opposition to the brand new, transferring ball.
He’s India’s main run-scorer within the sequence up to now and the second total, with 235 runs in six innings at a mean of 47.00, together with two half-centuries and a greatest rating of 84.
Rahul has a nice alternative to attain a uncommon milestone throughout this Take a look at: a hat-trick of centuries in Boxing Day Exams. In his final two Boxing Day appearances, each in opposition to South Africa in 2021 and 2023, Rahul scored centuries. He made 123 (alongside a 23) in a victorious outing at Centurion in 2021, and 101 (with a 4) in a shedding effort on the similar venue final 12 months.
KL has solely performed one Boxing Day Take a look at in Australia, which occurred to be his debut Take a look at in 2014. On that event, he managed scores of three and one.
Whereas there was some inconsistency in Rahul’s Boxing Day Take a look at performances, his capacity to ship two centuries in consecutive fixtures highlights his knack for rising to the event in one in every of cricket’s marquee occasions, which frequently attracts giant crowds.
In eight Exams this 12 months, Rahul has scored 469 runs at a mean of 39.08, with 4 half-centuries and a greatest rating of 86 throughout 14 innings. Within the ICC World Take a look at Championship 2023-25 cycle, he has amassed 574 runs in 9 matches at a mean of 41.00, with one century, 4 fifties, and a prime rating of 101.
Can KL Rahul obtain a hat-trick of Boxing Day Take a look at centuries? Solely time will inform.
Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Travis Head (vc), Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.
India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.
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