Not Virat or Rohit! Irfan Pathan names who is the 'Sankatmochan' Lord Hanuman of Indian cricket

Irfan Pathan, the former all-rounder of the Indian cricket team, praised KL Rahul's resilient century on the second day of the first Test match against South Africa in Centurion, drawing a parallel to ‘Sankatmochan’ Lord Hanuman. Despite frequent wickets falling at the other end, Rahul emerged as India's standout performer, enabling them to reach a commendable total of 245. 

3 things you need to know

• KL Rahul scored a classy century in the first Test match
• Despite his effort, India lost by an innings and 32 runs
• India have never won a Test series in South Africa

Also Read: WATCH | Rohit Sharma's reaction to Virat Kohli scoring 76 in India's abject 2nd innings goes viral

Irfan Pathan calls KL Rahul ‘Sankatmochan’

Irfan Pathan shared a video of Rahul's batting on social media, captioning it as "Sankatmochan" (an alternate name for Hindu deity Lord Hanuman). Rahul showcased his batting prowess in the middle-order, contributing 101 runs to India's total, featuring 14 boundaries and four sixes.

Apart from KL Rahul, none of the other Indian batsmen were able to make their mark. Kagiso Rabada picked up a five-wicket haul in the first innings as India were bowled out for 245 runs. South Africa then scored a mammoth 408 runs in response with Dean Elgar hitting a century. 

Dean Elgar smashed 185 runs for his team in their first innings, helping South Africa take a solid lead in the match. The Proteas then bowled India out for just 131 runs to win the match by an innings and 32 runs. This is India's biggest-ever Test defeat on the South African soil.