When KL Rahul stepped out to open in the ongoing Test series in England, few could’ve predicted that he would go on to achieve something no Indian opener had managed in almost five decades.
In a series where India has struggled with consistency, Rahul has quietly stacked up runs, match after match, becoming a key figure in India’s batting line-up.
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As of Day 4 of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, the senior batter has not only crossed the 500-run mark in the series but also joined Sunil Gavaskar in a rare club of Indian openers who’ve managed such a feat away from home.
How significant is KL Rahul’s 500-run milestone for Indian cricket?
KL Rahul’s tally of 508 runs* makes him only the second Indian opener ever to score over 500 runs in a Test series outside India.
The last man to do it was Sunil Gavaskar, who scored 542 runs in England in 1979, and a record 774 runs in West Indies in 1971.
Rahul has reached this landmark with consistent performances throughout the five-match series. Before his unbeaten 87 at Old Trafford, he already had two centuries and a fifty.
Here’s how the elite list looks:
| Player | Series Location | Year | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunil Gavaskar | West Indies | 1971 | 774 |
| Sunil Gavaskar | England | 1979 | 542 |
| KL Rahul | England | 2025 | 508* |
MORE: Can Joe Root break Sachin Tendulkar's Test run tally?
How has Rahul stood out in this high-pressure series?
Rahul has emerged as the most reliable opener and has delivered when it mattered most.
On day 4 of the fourth Test at Manchester, India got a horrible start as they were reduced to 1 for 2. Both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan were dismissed for ducks and lost their wicket to Chris Woakes.
But Rahul, alongside captain Shubman Gill, built a solid partnership and held the innings together.
Rahul was steady and composed, showing the same resilience that has defined his series. His knock of 87 by Day 4* was full of calm decision-making, something that India sorely needed as they tried to stay afloat in the match.
While the final Test at The Oval is still to be played, Rahul’s name has already been written into Indian cricket history, and rightly so.