Day 2 of the first Test match between India and West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium was a moment of profound personal significance and emotional redemption for cricketer KL Rahul. He not only notched up his 11th Test hundred but, more importantly, broke a nine-year drought for a home century.
The milestone carried immense personal weight, as Rahul’s last century on Indian soil was way back in 2016. This time, his celebration was particularly poignant. After raising his bat and proudly kissing the Indian emblem on his helmet, he added an incredibly sweet, never-before-seen gesture: placing his middle and ring finger into his mouth.
This heartwarming act was a special dedication to his baby daughter, who was born in March of this year to Rahul and his wife, actress Athiya Shetty. The couple, known for keeping their private life out of the public eye, saw Rahul’s tribute as an extraordinary public display of fatherly love.
Soon after, Athiya Shetty herself took to Instagram to share her feelings. Reposting Rahul’s celebration, she simply wrote, “The best for his best” accompanied by a heart emoji. Her concise yet deeply emotional message perfectly encapsulated the moment’s sentiment.
However, Rahul’s celebration joy was short-lived post-lunch. A mere ten minutes after Athiya’s public response, he was dismissed. He departed having scored exactly 100 runs off 197 deliveries, an innings embellished with 12 elegant boundaries.
His wicket fell to Jomel Warrican, who delivered a tempting ball outside the off-stump. Rahul attempted a drive but failed to keep it grounded, resulting in a straightforward catch for Justin Greaves.
Despite the slight disappointment of not converting his century into a larger score, Rahul’s significant innings had already put India firmly in command. By lunchtime, the hosts had comfortably extended their lead to 56 runs with seven wickets still in hand, largely due to Shubman Gill’s earlier fluent half-century. Following Rahul’s departure, Ravindra Jadeja joined the action at the crease.
For KL Rahul, this particular day will forever be cherished, not just for overcoming a prolonged home-century drought, but for the deeply personal celebration that beautifully merged his cricketing journey with the profound joy of fatherhood.