IND v SA: KL Rahul equals Dhoni’s single record
The second match of the Test series is played between India and South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. KL Rahul assumes the responsibility of captaincy for India in this match, as Virat Kohli is not part of the XI in play due to pain in his upper back. In this way, KL Rahul has equaled MS Dhoni’s unique record as captain.
Actually, Rahul got a chance to debut in the test captaincy for India after captaining in the first-class match. In this way it has equaled MS Dhoni. Before assuming the captaincy of India in Tests, Dhoni was also captain in 1 first-class match. In this case, Ajinkya Rahane is on top, who became India’s test captain without a captaincy in any first-class matches.
Players who played the fewest first-class matches as captain before their debut as test captain for India
0 – Ajinkya Rahane
1 – MS Dhoni / KL Rahul
2 – Gulabrai Ramchand
3 – Virender Sehwag / Virat Kohli
KL Rahul is the 34th test captain of India, while only the fourth Karnataka cricketer to lead the team in the tests. Besides KL Rahul, Gundappa Vishwanath (2 tests), Rahul Dravid (25 tests) and Anil Kumble (14 tests) have captained the India test team in 1980. Not only this, India has played 6 test matches in Johannesburg so far and they all have different captains.
Captain of India in total 6 tests contested in Johannesburg
1992 Azharuddin
1997 Sachin
2006 Dravid
2013 Dhoni
2018 Virat
2022 KL Rahul
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