Manchester : KL Rahul etched his name deeper into Indian cricket history on Saturday as he crossed the 9000-run mark in international cricket during the fourth Test at Old Trafford. The milestone came in the second session on Day 4, adding yet another feather to the Karnataka batter’s decorated cap.
Coming into the Test, Rahul needed 60 runs to reach the prestigious milestone. He scored 46 in the first innings and crossed the 9000-run mark with a composed 14 in the second, reaching the landmark in his 219th international match and 256th innings across formats.
His record now reads : KL Rahul reached 9000 international runs in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, with 19 centuries and 58 fifties in 219 matches.
With this feat, KL Rahul becomes the 16th highest run-scorer for India in international cricket a significant indicator of his impact across formats.
Just days before this milestone, Rahul also became the second Indian opener after Sunil Gavaskar to score 1000 Test runs in England a rare and prestigious accomplishment.
Gavaskar, who played 16 Tests in England during his 16-year career, amassed 1152 runs. Rahul, now just 88 runs short of that tally, has a golden chance to overtake the legend and become India’s most prolific opening batsman in English conditions.
England’s dominance with the bat was brutal, as they piled up 669 runs, taking a massive 311-run first-innings lead the first time India conceded 600+ runs in a Test innings since 2014.
India’s second innings began on shaky ground. Chris Woakes dealt a double blow in his first over, removing Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan for ducks.
But just when India looked in danger, KL Rahul and skipper Shubman Gill stitched together a resilient partnership, weathering the storm and steering India to safety by tea. Gill led from the front with a gritty half-century, and Rahul looked solid at the crease with 30* at the break.
As Day 4 drew to a close, India still trailed by 225 runs. However, the fightback led by Rahul and Gill has reignited hopes of an Indian resurgence. For KL Rahul, the journey continues not just to save the match, but to chase down Sunil Gavaskar’s record and create history on English soil.
