IND vs ENG 2025: KL Rahul Crosses 1000 Test Runs in England, Joins Gavaskar in Elite List

KL Rahul reached a special milestone on Day 1 of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, becoming only the second Indian Test opener to score over 1000 runs in England.

He achieved the feat with a single off the first ball of the 19th over in India’s first innings. Rahul has now scored over 1000 runs in 25 Test innings in England, a rare achievement for an Indian batter, especially an opener.

The only other Indian to do so is the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, who scored over 1000 Test runs in three away countries – 1404 in West Indies, 1152 in England, and 1001 in Pakistan.

Solid Start, But Misses Out on Fifty

Rahul looked in fine touch early in his innings. His first boundary came from a pull shot off Chris Woakes, and he added four more boundaries in the first session, including two stylish strokes through the off side against Brydon Carse.

India’s openers also made a bit of history. This was the first fifty-plus opening stand in Manchester by Indian openers since 1946.

However, Rahul could not convert his good start into a big score. He was dismissed for 46 just a couple of overs after lunch. It was the final ball of the 30th over, bowled by Chris Woakes, that got him.

Rahul had been playing at deliveries outside off stump and finally paid the price. A short-of-length ball nipped away sharply, and Rahul, trying to punch away from his body, closed the face of the bat too early. The thick edge flew to Zak Crawley at third slip, who took a comfortable catch.

Despite missing a half-century in Manchester, Rahul has had a strong series. He has scored two centuries and one fifty so far. His only failure came at Edgbaston in the second Test, where he was out for 2.