Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has heaped praise on wicket-keeping batter KL Rahul’s century, calling it a historic knock that nobody will forget. Rahul scored 101 runs to help India post 245 runs in the first innings against South Africa in the first Test of the two-match series at SuperSport Park in Centurion.

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Rahul, who ended Day 1 at 70 off 105 deliveries, continued taking the attack to the hosts on Day 2 as he completed his second hundred in Centurion to guide India to a respectable total in the first innings.

He brought up his century in style, smashing Proteas pacer Gerald Coetzee for a six in the 68th over, before being cleaned up by Nandre Burger in the next over.

Kaif took to social media platform ‘X’, saying it’s not easy to hit a century while batting at number 6, adding that nobody will be able to forget this historic knock. Rahul scored 101 runs off 137 deliveries, smashing 14 boundaries and four sixes.

“It’s not easy to hit a century at No.6. Very difficult conditions, overcast conditions. It was a wet pitch, the ball was moving around. India were in a spot of bother. But KL Rahul stood there. What an innings. It’s a historic knock. Nobody will be able to forget,” said Kaif in a video posted on ‘X’.

He relayed a message to Rahul, asking him to keep his mouth shut and let the bat do the talking. With this knock, Rahul became just the third Indian batter to score multiple Test centuries in South Africa. He joined Tendulkar (5) and Virat Kohli (2) in this elite list.

“Keep your mouth shut and let your bat do the talking, that’s what you have done well. The game was slipping away. India were in a lot of trouble. This historic knock had patience, it had class. It was a proper Test knock. Well done, KL Rahul,” Kaif added.

Interestingly, Rahul had scored a century at Centurion when India last played a Test match against South Africa at this venue. He had scored 123 runs to guide India to the win in their Boxing Day Test against South Africa in 2021.

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