India’s right-handed batsman Lokesh Rahul showed his class with his bat as he smashed unbeaten century to guide his team to an eight-wicket win in the opening match of the three-match T20 series against England at the Old Trafford cricket stadium on July 3.
Came to bat at No 3, ahead of Indian skipper Virat Kohli, Rahul struck a quick-fire 54-ball 101. His innings was laced with 10 fours and five sixes. Chasing 160 to win, Rahul stitched 123-run second wicket stand with opener Rohit Sharma as visitors crossed the line with 10 balls to spare.
Following his unbeaten 101, Rahul became the second Indian player after Rohit Sharma to score 2 tons in T20I. Rahul’s first T20 ton was against Zimbabwe.
Impressed with the match-winning performance by Rahul, Twitterati praised the 26-year-old by calling him the ‘next superstar of the Indian cricket’.
Here are some of the reactions:
What a performance from KL Rahul! His unbeaten 101 guides India home after a spectacular bowling display from Kuldeep Yadav, who recorded figures of 5/24. Great performance from the tourists, and we look forward to the next T20i on Friday in Cardiff !_ #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/SC2dWjNR5N
— ICC (@ICC) July 3, 2018
KL Rahul is showing signs of that Virat Kohli did in 2009-2010, who out of nowhere arrived and sealed his World Cup spot above Rohit. This isn’t just great form, this is pure class and pedigree on show. Time for Virat the captain to be an MSD and let him flourish.
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) July 3, 2018
KL Rahul last 9 innings:
Half century
Half century
Half century
Missed
Half century
Missed
Half century
Half century
Half century— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) July 3, 2018
T 2856 – CONGRATULATIONS INDIA !!!! pasted England in T20I by 8 wkts .. INCREDIBLE .. just such SUPERIORITY .. KL RAHUL century .. amazing______________________ pic.twitter.com/0cWt9Xhl78
— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) July 3, 2018
After Dhoni and Kohli, KL Rahul is gonna be that Blue eyed boy of our cricket crazy nation #ENGvIND
— meya (@CineCaffeine) July 3, 2018
KL Rahul did what Virat does very often and Virat did what Dhoni does very often. What an end! #ENGvIND
— SANATH _ (@Dude_Cricket) July 3, 2018
Earlier, batting first after losing the toss, hosts England got a 50-run opening start from Jason Roy (30) and Jos Buttler (69). They, however, failed to convert into big scores as the chinaman Kuldeep Yadav destroyed their middle-order by picking up 5 wickets for just 24 runs.
He picked up wickets of batsmen like Alex Hales (8), Eoin Morgan (7), Jonny Bairstow (0) and Joe Root (0).
With this, Kuldeep has now become the first left-arm wrist-spinner to take a five-fer in T20I. Following the victory Indian team is now leading the three-match series 1-0.
