Lokesh Rahul disappointed to get out on 108 after adding 164 with Virat Kohli (78) which helped India recover from a 12 for 2 situation
Lokesh Rahul celebrates his century against Sri Lanka at the P Sara Oval Stadium in Colombo yesterday
Colombo: He struck a fluent century to steady India from early jitters against Sri Lanka in the second cricket Test here but rookie batsman Lokesh Rahul has mixed feelings, saying that he should have scored more runs to take his side to even a better position.
Lokesh Rahul celebrates his century against Sri Lanka at the P Sara Oval Stadium in Colombo yesterday. Pic/Solaris Images
Twenty three-year-old Rahul expressed his satisfaction at getting a second Test hundred on the opening day but at the same time said he was disappointed at not having scored more than the 108 runs he did as India finished at 319-6 at stumps.
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"I did not get runs in the first Test (in Galle), so to come here and play like the way I did was very satisfying for me," Rahul said after the day's play.
"But honestly I felt I should have done a lot better and I am feeling a little disappointed," he said.
Rahul scored his second Test hundred following his maiden century in Sydney earlier this year, and his innings helped India steady on after losing two early wickets in the morning session.
Later on, he helped the score past the 200-run mark, putting on 164 runs with skipper Virat Kohli (78). He was dismissed while trying a botched pull shot soon after his hundred.
"It is very disappointing that the shot you love to play the most gets you out a lot. For me it's a good learning (curve). When I am playing international cricket, playing different speeds and bowlers who are taller and hitting the deck harder, it's not like first-class cricket," said the Karnataka youngster who is playing only his fourth Test.
"So it's something that I have to work on and discipline myself. It's my favourite shot and I will not stop playing the shot, so I will discipline myself and get to know what is the right line and length to pull," he said.
Rahul said his skipper Virat Kohli told him to remain positive after India lost two early wickets in the morning. "We batted really well, saw through the first session.
We were still cautious and it was a very confident partnership. That's the mindset I went in with, to look positive and get runs. I am happy it worked for me today," Rahul said, talking about his innings and the big partnership with skipper Kohli.
Missing out...
India will be a bit disappointed as not only did Rahul get out, Kohli and Rohit Sharma (79) were also unable to get three-figure scores. "You do feel you could have done a lot better and the team demands a lot more from you.
Especially for me as an opening batsman, firstly it is my responsibility to lay a good foundation in the first session and make sure to see through the new ball so it does not cost us a lot of wickets," he said. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka pacer Dhammika Prasad vowed to restrict the visitors to around 350.
"We have to get the last four wickets very quickly. We are hoping to get them out for less than 350. If we give them more runs it will make things difficult for us," said Prasad.
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