Criticised for failing in his debut Test in Melbourne, young Indian batsman Lokesh Rahul was relieved to score his maiden century in his second game to help India stay afloat on the third day
KL Rahul
Sydney: Criticised for failing in his debut Test in Melbourne, young Indian batsman Lokesh Rahul was relieved to score his maiden century in his second game to help India stay afloat on the third day of the fourth and final Test against Australia, here yesterday.
KL Rahul celebrates his century on Day Three of the fourth Test at Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday. Pic/AFP
The 22-year-old Karnataka batsman could only muster 3 and 1 in the first and second innings respectively in the Boxing Day Test but struck a well-deserved ton at the SCG, while opening the innings.
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"It feels good. It was not the debut that I had expected in Melbourne. I came out thinking this is my first game and I am very pleased with the way I batted today," said Rahul at the end of day's play press conference.
Coming in early
"Batting up in the order gave me little more time. And it was a conscious effort to spend some time in the middle and get those early nerves off. The wicket was pretty slow and the Australian bowlers made it harder by giving nothing away.
I just kept telling myself to bat through the first session so that I can come out in second session and score more runs," he added. Rahul had batted at No 6 and three respectively in the two innings in the third Test and had come a cropper, falling to top-edges on both occasions. But the first innings hundred at SCG, especially after dropping a simple catch on the opening day, came as a confidence booster.
KL Rahul
"I am more relieved than being proud of myself. It was a nightmare debut and it didn't make my life easier coming to this second Test. I dropped a sitter. I kept telling myself the only way from here is up and I had to calm myself down. Definitely batting up the order gave me a little more time to myself," he said.
"I just kept playing one ball at a time - that was my focus. It was important for me as an opener to play one ball at a time and enjoy the challenge. After I played last evening it was challenging to get through the last 25 overs and once I did that I felt like it was just a matter of focusing and keep my calm and play as long as I can," he added.
Major support
Rahul stitched a delightful 141-run third wicket partnership with skipper Virat Kohli (140 batting) and thanked all the teammates and support staff for their support in 'trying' times. "Duncan Fletcher and Ravi Shastri have been very supportive. They have been talking to me a lot even in the nets and after the game, they told me to spend a little more time on the pitch and it will all seem easier after that.
All the players are very supportive, they came and told me an international debut is not always what you expect, that it can be hard on you. So don't feel down and pick yourself up and focus on the challenges coming ahead," Rahul said.
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