KL Rahul out for 82 on Day 2 of Galle Test; seventh Test score between 80 and 100

KL Rahul was dismissed for 82 on Day 2 of the first Test between Sri Lanka and India at Galle International Stadium; the 82 came off 175 balls and included ten fours and one six, and it was his seventh Test score between 80 and 100.

Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bat, and India finished Day 1 at 288/2 in 73 overs. Devdutt Padikkal recorded his maiden Test century on that day and went on to make 167 off 230 balls. Rahul and Padikkal combined for a 150-run partnership for the second wicket on Day 1. Rahul had retired hurt on Day 1 when he was on 77 off 162 balls.

Rain delayed the start of Day 2 and the entire morning session was washed out. Sri Lanka produced a comeback in the second session, taking three wickets. India closed that session at 364/5.

Rahul returned to bat after the fall of Rishabh Pant, who made 39 off 62, but did not add substantially to his total and was one of the three wickets to fall in the second session. Having been forced off with cramps and exhaustion on Day 1, he managed only five further runs on Day 2 before being dismissed for 82.

The 82 extends Rahul’s sequence of near-centuries in Test cricket; he was previously dismissed for 85 in 2017 against Sri Lanka at Pallekele. In World Test Championship play, Rahul has accumulated 2,230 runs in 34 matches, including six centuries and ten half-centuries.

Rain is predicted for the upcoming three days, and Team India would be looking to speed up the scoring rate to give themselves a chance in the ongoing Test.