Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 21 (ANI): Star India wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul achieved a significant milestone on Saturday by surpassing 8,000 runs in international cricket during the first Test match against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

In the second innings of this match, Rahul scored 22 runs off 19 balls at a strike rate of 115.79. His innings ended unbeaten as Indian skipper Rohit Sharma declared the team’s second innings at 287/4. This accomplishment is a testament to Rahul’s consistent performance since his Test debut in 2014 against Australia. Over his career, he has amassed 2885 runs in 50 Test matches, spanning 86 innings.

Rahul’s proficiency extends beyond the Test format. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), he has played 77 matches, featuring in 72 innings, and scored a total of 2851 runs at a strike rate of 87.56. His contributions in T20 Internationals (T20Is) are equally impressive, with 2265 runs in 72 matches across 68 innings, showcasing his versatility and skill across all formats of the game.

As the third day of the Chennai Test drew to a close, Bangladesh found themselves at 158/4, with skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto unbeaten on 51 and Shakib Al Hasan not out on 5. Earlier in the post-Tea session, Bangladesh had commenced strongly at 56/0 with openers Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan standing firm at the crease. However, Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah provided an early breakthrough by dismissing Zakir Hasan for 33 runs off 47 balls. Following this, Ravichandran Ashwin’s exceptional bowling dismantled the top order, claiming the wickets of Shadman Islam (35), Mominul Haque (13), and Mushfiqur Rahim (13).

The second session of Day three had India resuming their innings at 205/3, with Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill both unbeaten on impressive scores of 82 and 86 respectively. Pant went on to score a century in his comeback innings in Test cricket, while Gill remained unbeaten with a remarkable 119 runs from 176 balls, adorned with 10 boundaries and four sixes.

KL Rahul’s contribution of an unbeaten 22 runs from just 19 balls, including four boundaries, was crucial in bolstering India’s total. India eventually declared their innings at 287/4, setting a formidable target of 515 runs for Bangladesh to chase in order to win the first match of the series.

This match has not only highlighted the depth of talent within the Indian cricket team but also underscored KL Rahul’s significant role as a reliable and versatile player across multiple formats of international cricket.