Chennai Test: Missing a double ton hurts, says KL Rahul

India's KL Rahul wears a dejected look after being dismissed for 199 off Adil Rashid in Chennai yesterday. Pic/AFP

India's KL Rahul wears a dejected look after being dismissed for 199 off Adil Rashid in Chennai yesterday. Pic/AFP

Chennai: KL Rahul displayed superb temperament but missed out on a well-deserved double century by a solitary run even though India were in a commanding position at 391-4 (87 runs behind) on the Day Three of the final Test against England yesterday.

Rahul messes it up
Rahul, who hit a career-best 199, was in a record-breaking spree en route his fourth Test hundred. He was devastated after coming tantalisingly close to his maiden double hundred before a moment's laziness saw him slash a loopy leg-break from Adil Rashid straight into the hands of Jos Buttler.

His innings was the highest by an Indian opener against England at home since Budhi Kunderan's 192 at erstwhile Madras in 1964. He faced 311 balls to hit 16 boundaries and three lovely sixes of off-spinners Liam Dawson and Moeen Ali. An opening partnership of 152 with Parthiv Patel (71) set the perfect platform and it was utilised perfectly with another 161-run stand for the fourth wicket with Karun Nair (71 batting).

Both Parthiv and Karun also notched up their individual best in Test cricket. It was the pressure of trying to reach a coveted milestone that became his undoing but KL Rahul is happy for the fact that it is not everyday that one gets to score 199 in a Test match.

'Just unfortunate'
"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 off 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 very happy at the end of the day, 199 runs is not easy to get but yeah missing out on a double hundred obviously hurts," Rahul said at the post-day press conference.