NEW DELHI: Keeper-batter
KL Rahul
produced a superb knock in testing conditions on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test against South Africa in Centurion.
On the day when the Proteas bowlers breathed fire on a green strip and overcast conditions, Rahul valiant unbeaten 70 stood out as the 31-year-old led India's fight, taking them to 208 for 8 before rain and bad light forced early stumps.
Batting coach
Vikram Rathour
lauded Rahul's superb fight in the bowling-friendly conditions, pointing out that the batter was very clear with his plans against the quality Proteas bowling attack.
"He is a man of crisis. Every time there is a tough situation most of the times he is there. He is very clear with his game plans what he wanted to do," Rathour said.
Talking about the conditions in Centurion, he further added that it was a 'challenging surface to bat' especially due to the rainy weather.
The batting coach added that they would love to have more runs on the scoreboard after the end of the first day. However, he added that the visitors did "reasonably well" against the Proteas on day one.
"It was always going to be a challenging surface to bat on because the weather was there, the wicket was undercover for a day or more than that. We would love to have a couple of more wickets on our hands at the end of the day but we did reasonably well, we have runs on board," he added.
Talking about
Virat Kohli
and
Shreyas Iyer
, he praised the two batters and said that they played a crucial recovery partnership after India lost three wickets.
"The condition was tough. After losing three wickets, it was a good recovery partnership from Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, they both have played well," he added.
(With inputs from ANI)
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