Ben Stokes walks past injured KL Rahul without checking, exchanging words later

India.com

4 hours ago

Ben Stokes appeals against KL Rahul. It was not give, as Rahul went on to score 137 in the innings.
New Delhi: KL Rahul demonstrated tremendous grit with the bat in the initial opening session on Day 4 of the first Test in Leeds. Fighting hard under difficult cloudy circumstances, the opener chalked out a combative century only to be eventually dismissed after scoring 137. They led India to a commanding lead when partnered by Rishabh Pant who scored his second century in the current Test match.
But right on the verge of the Lunch break, KL Rahul was hit terribly as he was hit on the box following a delivery by Ben Stokes, causing a halt in the match for some time.
It happened on the fifth ball of the 47th over as a delivery of Ben Stokes swung back and hit KL Rahul on the box. The opener fell down on his knees at once in pain and it took him a moment to recover before coming up on his feet again. Viewers were conspicuous of the fact that Stokes never bothered to check on Rahul after the strike.
Rahul carefully unearthed the next one to the wicket keeper and maintained his composure in spite of the pain. When the over was over, he fell down to his knees in order to stretch and relieve the pain. That is when the England skipper had his first conversation (exchange of a word or two) with Rahul, as Stokes walked past.
Pant and Rahul scored a 50-run partnership in the 45th over which came after 117 balls. However, even after Carse sent Shubman back to the pavilion with only eight runs to his name and sent India to a perilous 92/3, Team India gave themselves a nice cushion to go guns a blazing thereafter in the rest of match.
In the Lunch break, English veteran Stuart Broad had it to say that Rahul was playing a good half-century but he was equally impressed with how Ben Stokes set the field to him.
'He has driven the ball so beautifully – but last night I really enjoyed the field Stokes operated with by leaving mid-off completely open.'
'He had a square extra-cover and tempted Rahul to drive straighter.'
'England have the option of going short to him for a period of time, like India did to Jamie Smith. Maybe that gets him out of his comfort zone and his shell, and he might make a mistake,' Broad told the broadcasters.