The first Test between India and Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens, Kolkata had an unusual start. After rain played spoilsport on multiple occasions and the toss getting delayed the Indian openers finally took to the ground to go up against the Sri Lankan bowling attack. The conditions were damp and Dinesh Chandimal made the perfect decision after winning the toss, to bowl first. Suranga Lakmal had the new ball in his hand whereas KL Rahul was on the strike. First ball, edged, caught behind, golden duck!
Rahul did not even have the time to get his feet moving. The first ball was bang on. The ball was shaped inwards and pitched in the line of the offstump. In the end it swung away from the batsman but not before taking an outside edge of Rahul’s bat. The opener was nothing but stunned as it took a moment for him to register that he had got out for a golden duck on the first ball of the Test.
With the golden duck, Rahul entered the list no batsman wants to enter, to get out for a golden duck off the first ball of the Test. Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar in the commentary box welcomed him to the club he entered 24 years ago.
Gavaskar strolled down the memory lane when he got out for a duck.
1983 against the West Indies, here at the Eden Gardens, caught by Dujon, bowled by Marshall. Mine was down the leg side, trying to fend off a bouncer. Ended up kissing the glove and went to Dujon.
It might be hard to believe but the last time an Indian batsman got out off the first ball of the Test was over a decade ago. It was former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer who got out to Bangladesh’s strike bowler Mashrafe Mortaza at Chittagong on May 18, 2007.
Here’s the video of the wicket –
Check out “Golden Duck! Rahul Walks Back” on Hotstar!https://t.co/q7hYAaoxkB
— Nishith (@Nicks103) November 16, 2017
The Day 1 of the first Test saw both the teams moving back and forth between the dressing room and the ground. Though it seemed to work out for Sri Lanka as they got 3 wickets including Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan and skipper Virat Kohli. India were reduced to 3 for 17 before the day’s play got over due to bad light. Suranga Lakmal bowled a dream spell featuring 6 maidens on the trot and picking up 3 wickets.
