KL Rahul Retires Hurt After Starting Strongly As India A Chase Huge Target Against Australia A
In a gripping contest in the second unofficial Test between India A and Australia A, KL Rahul played a commanding innings before retiring hurt, leaving cricket fans with mixed feelings about his fitness ahead of the upcoming West Indies Test series.
The match, held at Lucknow, saw Australia A set a challenging target of 412 runs for India A. Rahul, opening the innings, got off to a promising start alongside Narayan Jagadeesan. The opening pair put together a solid 85-run partnership, with Rahul reaching his half-century briskly in just 55 deliveries. He displayed fluent strokeplay, including nine boundaries, showcasing his intent to chase down the big total.
However, just before the end of day three, Rahul retired hurt on 74 runs off 92 balls with 30 minutes remaining in the day’s play. Reports suggest Rahul was battling a fever rather than a physical injury, making his decision to retire a precautionary measure. This also provides hope that his chances for the upcoming official Test series against the West Indies remain intact. India A ended the day at 169/2, still requiring 243 runs to win.
Joining Sai Sudharsan, who remained unbeaten on 44, and nightwatchman Manav Suthar on 1, India A is well-placed to continue the chase on the final day. Rahul is expected to return to the crease to continue his innings, potentially turning this into a remarkable comeback for India A.
On the bowling front, India A had earlier bowled out Australia A for 185 runs in their second innings, with left-arm spinner Manav Suthar taking 3 wickets for 50 runs and pacer Gurnoor Brar claiming 3 for 42. Off-spinner Todd Murphy was the pick of the Australian bowlers in the second innings with 2 wickets.
This innings from Rahul is a boost for the Indian team management as the batter looks to regain strong form and match fitness ahead of the international Test series beginning October 2. His solid performance along with contributions from other Indian A players keeps the match finely balanced and exciting with a day’s play left.
In summary, KL Rahul’s brave 74 laid a solid foundation in pursuit of a daunting 412, but his early retirement due to illness adds an element of suspense ahead of the final day. India A’s chase continues with hope and determination as they aim to chase one of the highest fourth innings totals in Indian first-class cricket history.