In Ahmedabad, the roar of the crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium grew louder on Day 2 of the first Test against the West Indies, as KL Rahul raised his bat to celebrate a long-awaited milestone. After nearly nine years, he scored his second Test century at home, bringing a wave of relief and joy not just to himself but to Indian fans everywhere.
KL Rahul reached the three-figure mark after facing 190 deliveries, showcasing patience and composure in India’s first innings. His innings so far has included 12 elegant boundaries, each cheered by an audience eager to see him rediscover his touch in red-ball cricket.
For KL Rahul, the achievement carried added significance. His last Test century in India came way back in December 2016 against England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, where he narrowly missed a double century, scoring 199 runs with 16 fours and three sixes. The wait between that knock and Friday’s hundred stretched to 3,211 days, the longest gap for any Indian batter between two home centuries. The previous record belonged to Ravichandran Ashwin whose gap was 2,655 days.
This latest innings marks KL Rahul’s 11th century in Test cricket overall and already his third in 2025, a sign of his consistent form this year. Along the way, he stitched crucial partnerships to strengthen India’s innings. On the opening day, he added 68 runs with Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made a brisk 36, and later built a 98-run stand with captain Shubman Gill who contributed a steady 50.
For KL Rahul, this century was more than just a number, it was a reminder of his resilience and determination, a reward for years of perseverance and perhaps the beginning of a new chapter in his Test career.
