Fri Oct 03 06:40:00 UTC 2025: **Here’s a news article based on the provided text:**
**KL Rahul Silences Critics with Century, Mohammad Kaif Lauds Resilience**
**[Location] –** KL Rahul struck his first Test century on home soil in nine years, reigniting his Test career and prompting former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif to strongly defend him against past criticism. The elegant right-hander reached the milestone in 190 balls, resuming from his overnight score of 53.
The century comes after a period where Rahul’s place in the team was questioned, despite having previously showcased his talent with three centuries in England. Rahul’s career has been marked by both brilliance and inconsistency, with injuries and shifting batting positions contributing to periods of lean form.
Kaif took to social media, formerly X, to lambast Rahul’s critics, stating: “How opinions change after scoring in few innings… Now his critics say there is no one like him. Remember: KL Rahul strength is his belief and hard work. That’s what makes him rise after every fall and perform despite the pressure.”
This century marks Rahul’s 10th Test hundred, surpassing Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir’s tally of nine centuries at the top. He now stands behind only Sunil Gavaskar (33), Virender Sehwag (22), and Murali Vijay (12) in terms of Test centuries as an opener for India. Rahul’s last Test century was against England in Chennai back in December 2016, where he scored a career-best 199.
Cricket analyst Aakash Chopra emphasized the importance of this series for Rahul, stating that an average of 35 did not suit him. “In my opinion, this is a very important series for KL Rahul; an average of 35 does not suit him at all. It is wrong, and if he needs to better it, then he has to write his name in this series, and he batted in that way today. The backfoot punch that he plays, no one in international cricket plays it better than him. Through this series and the South Africa one, Rahul has to boost his average to 42 to 45,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel after KL Rahul scored a half-century on Day 1 of the first Test between India and West Indies.
The century will undoubtedly provide a significant confidence boost for Rahul as he aims to solidify his place in the Indian Test team and elevate his career average.
First Piper 