Team India’s opening batter KL Rahul received a major reprieve as his first pink-ball experience nearly ended in a duck. He edged Scott Boland’s very first delivery to the wicketkeeper during the ongoing second Border-Gavaskar Test at Adelaide Oval on Friday, December 6, but the decision was overturned after Boland was found to have overstepped.
Rahul, retained as an opener despite Rohit Sharma’s return, played cautiously against the swinging pink ball. Even after facing 18 deliveries, the right-handed batter was yet to get off the mark following Yashasvi Jaiswal’s golden duck in the first over.
With Shubman Gill steady at the other end, the Australian pacers kept the pressure on Rahul, eventually bringing Boland into the attack in the eighth over. Boland, known for his accuracy, bowled a delivery just outside the fourth stump, prompting Rahul to have a go at it.
The ball, surprising KL Rahul with extra bounce, made contact with his bat, resulting in a straightforward catch for Alex Carey behind the stumps. Australia celebrated their second breakthrough with the crowd as Rahul walked off. Virat Kohli had already taken his position on the field when umpire Richard Illingworth signaled a no-ball.
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Scott Boland was added to the playing XI after Josh Hazlewood suffered a side strain following the series opener in Perth.
KL Rahul survived an earlier dismissal off Scott Boland’s bowling in the same over
Boland’s first over proved to be an eventful one, beginning with the no-ball incident that kept KL Rahul at the crease. After managing a double on the second ball, Rahul finally got off the mark after facing 21 balls without scoring.
On the second-last ball of the over, Boland managed to get an edge off Rahul’s bat. The ball flew towards Usman Khawaja in the slip cordon, but the experienced fielder couldn’t hold onto the challenging catch, giving Rahul another reprieve.
As of the latest update, India are at 36-1 after 11 overs, with Rahul unbeaten on 9 runs from 32 balls.
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