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The dismissals of Rishabh Pant just moments before lunch and KL Rahul after lunch were pivotal for England, to take the momentum away from India in the third Test at Lord's in London on day three. The first session of the day was mostly profitable for India as they batted well throughout the game before Pant’s run out on 74 by Ben Stokes. Then, in the post-lunch session, Shoaib Bashir provided the much needed breakthrough in the form of KL Rahul’s wicket, who scored his second Test hundred at Lord’s and the 10th of his Test career.
Following a similar approach like their teammates, Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy also built a partnership mixed with caution and agression. While attacking a delivery in the 78th over of Indian innings from Shoaib Bashir, Jadeja hit the ball hard down the track resulting in the ball hitting England off-spinner's left hand as the latter tried to create a caught and bowled chance. Bashir immediately called for help and left the field with the left index finger injured. The final ball of his over was completed by Joe Root.
KL Rahul becomes 100th batter get out on 100 in a Test innings
KL Rahul’s century highlights his efficacy as a batter, especially in overseas appearances. Nine of Rahul’s ten Test hundreds have come at the home grounds of opposition teams, four in England, two in South Africa, and one each in Australia, Sri Lanka, and West Indies. It is the joint most by a batter at the time of their tenth Test hundred, alongside Ken Barrington and Mohinder Amarnath.
He was dismissed by Shoaib Bashir by a flighted off-break delivery which he tried to loosely push in an attempt to hit towards the cover region. The lack of turn of the delivery caused it to take the edge of the bat and carried the ball to the slip fielder Harry Brook. In a stat by Espncricinfo, KL Rahul became the 100th batter to get out on a score of 100 in a Test innings.
