LONDON: KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma on Thursday put on India’s first century partnership outside Asia for the opening wicket since 2010 – 126 as the visitors set the tone on what turned out to be a glorious day for batting in the second Test at the Lords.
India were well-placed on 276-3 at stumps on the first day.
Rahul was initially outshone by Rohit Sharma, who made 83 in their fine stand of 126 — the first century partnership by an overseas opening pair in a Test in England since 2016, when Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva also achieved the feat at Lord’s.
But, while patient in defence and showing good judgement in leaving balls outside off stump, Rahul was still 127 not out at the close, having batted out the day.
Together with India captain Virat Kohli, he shared a third wicket stand of 117.
One consolation for England was that the new ball did for star batsman Kohli, out for an increasingly fluent 42 before stumps after edging Ollie Robinson to opposing captain Joe Root at first slip.
