In the face of a challenging pitch and a formidable South African bowling attack, KL Rahul exhibited extraordinary resilience, guiding India from a precarious 92/4 to finish the day at 208/8 in the Boxing Day Test at Centurion. Rahul's unbeaten 70, marked by a blend of caution and aggression, played a pivotal role in India's recovery.
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Having faced the test of the South African seamers, Rahul showcased his mettle by batting alongside the tailenders. His ability to navigate tough situations earned him praise from the Indian team management, with batting coach Rathour dubbing him India's "crisis man."
Rahul's prior success at Centurion, where he scored a century two years ago in the 2021 Boxing Day Test, adds to his stature as a dependable player in challenging conditions. Former India batter Sanjay Bangar emphasized Rahul's invaluable experience as an opener, describing it as "worth its weight in gold."
He has played 41 Test innings as an opener and it was only the second time he batted outside the top-three positions in his test career.
Let us take a look at his record in Test cricket across various batting positions.
| Batting position | Year | Matches | Innings | N.O. | Runs | HS | Average | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 0 | 4s | 6s |
| No 1 | 2015-2022 | 26 | 41 | 1 | 1601 | 199 | 40.02 | 3034 | 52.76 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 191 | 11 |
| No 2 | 2015-2023 | 23 | 34 | 1 | 950 | 129 | 28.78 | 1935 | 49.09 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 114 | 7 |
| No 3 | 2014-2018 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 88 | 54 | 17.60 | 139 | 63.30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| No 6 | 2014-2023 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 73 | 70* | 73.00 | 113 | 64.60 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2 |
What time does India vs South Africa, 1st Test start in India?
The Test match will begin at 13:30 in India.
The morning session will be two hours long which means, lunch will be taken at around 15:30 hours IST.
It will be a 40-minute break and play will resume at 16:10 hours IST.
The second session will also be a two-hour affair and Tea will be around 18:10 hours IST.
After a 20-minute break, play will resume at 18:30 hours IST for the final sesion.
Stumps will be around 20:30 hours IST.
However, if rain interrupts the game sessions will be rescheduled.
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Where can I watch India and South Africa on TV and online in India?
Fans can stream the 1st Test between India and South Africa online on the Disney+ Hotstar. The match will be streamed on the app, as well as website. The Boxing Day Test match will be telecasted in various languages - English, Hindi, and Vernacular.
| Tournament | Date | Online stream | TV Broadcast |
|---|---|---|---|
| India vs SA 1st Test | December 26, 2023 | Disney+ Hotstar | Star Sports Network |
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