Friday at the Narendra Modi Stadium was a day filled with redemption, immense relief, and raw emotion for star cricketer KL Rahul. The elegant right-handed batsman notched his 11th Test century, a particularly significant milestone as it marked his first home ton in nearly nine years. This brilliant flick off Roston Chase not only brought him to three figures but also ended a long and challenging drought stretching back to 2016, when he last scored a century in India during the historic Karun Nair triple-century Test in Chennai.
Rahul’s celebration made the moment truly unforgettable. As he proudly raised his bat and removed his helmet to kiss the Indian badge, he surprised everyone with a never-before-seen gesture: placing his middle and ring finger into his mouth. This unique and heartwarming act was a dedication to his baby daughter, who was born earlier this year in March to Rahul and his wife, actor Athiya Shetty.
Having tied the knot in January 2023 after years of dating, it’s clear that this new chapter in Rahul’s personal life has provided a significant source of inspiration on the cricket field.
Statistically, this century places Rahul in an exclusive group of Indian cricketers with the most innings between two Test hundreds at home – 26 innings. He now shares this mark with legends such as Kapil Dev, Polly Umrigar, Ajinkya Rahane, and Vijay Manjrekar. The long wait made this ton even more valuable, coming at a crucial time to stabilize India’s position after a commanding performance on the opening day against the West Indies.
By lunch, India had added 97 runs in 29 overs for the loss of just one wicket, with Rahul looking completely at ease at the crease. His partnership with Shubman Gill, who contributed a fluid fifty before being dismissed by a reverse sweep, propelled India into a formidable position with a lead of 56 and seven wickets still in hand.
Ultimately, this day will forever be etched in Rahul’s memory not just for breaking his home-century jinx, but for the beautiful, small gesture that connected his cricketing triumph with his journey into fatherhood.