KL Rahul’s 100 at the Narendra Modi Stadium on October 3, 2025, ended a lengthy wait of 3,211 days for the right-handed opener. It was also his second Test century at home, and only his 11th overall in Test cricket. His last hundred came against England in December 2016 in Chennai, where he scored 199 runs. So it has been December 2016 since he had scored a Test match century in India. 

So the 3,211 days between trips to 100 runs at home by Rahul is a record for any Indian cricketer, and represents almost 9 years of waiting and working toward another home century. For someone who has shown no small talent or promise for his entire career. it seemed a big relief and reward.

The Match Situation

When Rahul walked out at the moment to bat, the visitors had already been bowled out for 162 runs on Day 1. Mohammed Siraj had taken 4 wickets and Jasprit Bumrah had taken 3 wickets, as the host team had been in a good place to start. On Day 2 the team came out to bat at 121/2, and 41 runs behind.

The conditions at Ahmedabad were far from easy for the batters. The red-soil surface offered some help for bowlers and made scoring freely quite tough. Early dismissals of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan meant Rahul had to take charge and build the innings carefully. He did exactly that with patience and smart shot selection.

How Rahul Built His Innings

The opener required 190 balls to complete his hundred, demonstrating strong concentration and discipline. He hit 12 fours along the way and looked at ease at the crease for most of the session. He also had a bit of luck early in the day when an edge went past the keeper and the first slip for a four. However, outside of that, he looked solid and in command.

Here are some key moments from his knock:

• He hit the second ball of the day past the cordon for a four, signaling his intent from the start
• Rahul found gaps regularly and rotated the strike well with skipper Shubman Gill
• He reached his hundred off 192 balls at lunch, helping the team to 218/3 and a 56-run lead
• His partnership with Gill added 98 runs for the third wicket before the captain got out for 50

The timing of this century couldn’t have been better. After losing early wickets, Rahul’s steady presence gave the team much-needed stability. He stayed at the crease throughout the first session and remained unbeaten on 100 at the break.

A Special Celebration

After reaching his milestone, Rahul performed an entirely new celebration. He took off his helmet, raised his bat towards the dressing room and put two fingers in his mouth to signal to his newborn daughter Evaarah. 

Head coach Gautam Gambhir was happy and clapped from the pavilion with the support staff. The spectators in the stadium erupted in chants of “KL Rahul! KL Rahul!” in a spectacular atmosphere, though the stadium wasn’t full. Even at that time, it was evident what this emotional occasion meant as it had been a long time coming.

The Context of His 2025 Form

This hundred occurred in what was a brilliant year for Rahul in Test cricket. Coming into this game, he had made 532 runs against England during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, which included two hundreds and two fifties in that series. Rahul’s form during that series helped the team draw 2-2.

 By the time he got to his century in Ahmedabad, Rahul had 649 runs in 13 innings during 2025 at an average of 54.08. It now became his best calendar year, surpassing the previous best calendar year of 633 runs back in 2017. The numbers clearly showed he was playing the cricket of his life.

What Happened Next

After the lunch break, Rahul couldn’t continue his innings for long. He fell to left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican immediately after the interval, dismissed for exactly 100 runs. While he would have liked to convert it into a bigger score, his job was done. The platform he created allowed Dhruv Jurel and Ravindra Jadeja to take the team to 448/5 by the end of Day 2, building a commanding 286-run lead.

Cricmatch official provides detailed coverage of such memorable Test performances that define careers. Rahul’s knock was one of those defining moments that fans will remember for years to come. For anyone following Test cricket closely, Cricmatch official offers comprehensive analysis and updates on player form and match situations.

This innings proved Rahul belongs at the top of the order in Test cricket. His mental shift and improved approach finally paid off on home soil after years of struggle and self-doubt.