I will go back home happy that I got 199: K L Rahul

He missed the first Test at Rajkot and the third Test at Mohali, and was only able to score only 34 runs in the two Tests he played at Visakhapatnam and Mumbai with a highest of 24. He got his first international duck in the second Test, scored his first century at home (on Sunday) and was gunning to get his first ever double hundred when he reached out to a loopy, wide ball only to spoon it to the fielder at cover-point on 199.

Rahul was understandably distraught on realising the importance of one run through a harsh lesson. “It was a good day till I got out. I was looking to play positively, everything was going my way. I was hitting the ball in the middle and the chances that I took came off, everything was looking good but just unfortunate that the pressure of getting a double hundred got to me. I am happy at the end of the day; 199 runs aren’t easy to get but missing out on a double-hundred obviously hurts. But I'll go back home happy that I got 199 crucial runs for my team,” Rahul said.

The 24-year-old batsman said it took some time for him to come to terms. “It took some time to sink in. Scoring 200 is a big landmark and I’ve never been somebody who has chased landmarks but getting a 200 would have always been a proud moment and I'm gutted that I missed out. I just have to be grateful that I went out and got a 100 under my name,” Rahul added.

Elaborating on the emotions in the dressing room, Rahul said: “I was just shut off. I couldn’t hear what was being said. There were a lot of boys who came up to me and said something but I was just disappointed. It is hard, it’s never easy to get out 199. I got my first international duck in Vizag and now getting out like this here, so I am going through a lot of emotions in this Test series.”

Rahul said it was important for India to get some runs and hope for the wicket to turn late tomorrow or on the fifth day to force a positive result. “The wicket has played well so far. It’s the best wicket we have played on so far in this series. Wankhede was a good wicket as well. When we get a wicket like this, we want to make full use of it. Hopefully it would start turning late tomorrow or early fifth day. It is important for us to get back tomorrow and get some runs,” he added.