Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 21 (ANI): In a remarkable feat, India’s star wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul reached the significant milestone of 8,000 international cricket runs on Saturday during the first Test match against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

During the second innings of the match, Rahul contributed 22 runs off just 19 balls, maintaining an impressive strike rate of 115.79. His unbeaten effort, which included four boundaries, was part of a broader strategic play that saw Indian skipper Rohit Sharma declare India’s second innings at 287/4.

KL Rahul’s cricket journey has been nothing short of extraordinary since he made his Test debut in 2014 against Australia. Over the course of 50 Test matches and 86 innings, he has accumulated 2,885 runs. His prowess extends to One Day Internationals (ODIs) as well, where he has played 77 matches and 72 innings, amassing 2,851 runs at a strike rate of 87.56.

In the T20 International (T20I) arena, the 32-year-old has demonstrated his versatility and skill by scoring 2,265 runs in 72 matches and 68 innings. These achievements highlight his consistent performance across all formats of the game.

As the third day of the Test concluded, Bangladesh found themselves at 158/4. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto remained unbeaten at 51*, alongside Shakib Al Hasan who was not out at 5*. Bangladesh began their post-Tea session strongly at 56/0 with openers Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan scoring 21 and 32 runs respectively.

India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah struck early in the session, dismissing Zakir Hasan for 33 runs off 47 balls. The spin wizard Ravichandran Ashwin further dismantled Bangladesh’s batting lineup by taking three crucial wickets—Shadman Islam (35), Mominul Haque (13), and Mushfiqur Rahim (13).

Earlier in the day, India resumed their second innings with Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill at the crease, standing at 205/3. Pant showcased his class by scoring a century in his comeback innings in Test cricket. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill played a stellar unbeaten knock of 119 runs off 176 balls, featuring ten boundaries and four sixes.

KL Rahul’s valuable contribution of 22 runs in just 19 balls added depth to India’s already commanding position. The declaration at 287/4 set a daunting target of 515 runs for Bangladesh to chase in order to win the first match of the series.

India’s comprehensive performance with both bat and ball has put them in a dominant position, highlighting their intent to secure a decisive victory in this Test series opener.