Chennai Test: No time for disputes, Karnataka boys win Tamil hearts

"I've just been standing under the shower. It will take some time to sink in," Karnataka's batsman, KL Rahul said on missing out on a maiden Test double hundred.

 

Read more: Karun Nair 303*: Karnataka 502/1 decl, lead ENG by 25 runs

 

 

He was in a perfect touch on Day three of the ongoing fifth Test against England in Chennai. He had brought up his fourth Test hundred, and it was special because it was his maiden Test century on the Indian soil.

 

When Rahul brought up his ton, he had the Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli on the other end before the latter was dismissed bringing the other Karnataka cricketer, Karun Nair, at the crease.

 

Watch: Karun Nair converts maiden Test ton into maiden Test double hundred

 

That moment was a massive one for Karnataka. After a decade, two Karnataka batsmen batted for India together at the crease. The last time that happened was in 2006 when Dravid and Kumble batted for India during the West Indies series.

 

 

Keeping aside the dispute between the two states, the Chennai cheered for the Karnataka players with full force, testifying what unity and diversity is.

 

The Cauvery Water Dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu aggravated earlier this year that led to violent repercussions in Bangalore, Mysore, Mandya and other parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu as well.

 

Despite police force being on the roads, the situation went out of hands resulting in section 144 and Curfew being imposed on few parts of Bangalore.

 

After empty stands in the opening day on Friday, the weekend saw spectators turned up in numbers. On Day three, it was worth it. Rahul and Karun shared a stand of 161 runs for the fourth wicket; ever run, every boundary was cheered by the crowd.

 

 

Just when things looked good for India, England spinner, Adil Rashid, smashed hearts of every Indian present in the Chidambaram Stadium and the ones glued to the television, waiting for Rahul to touch the 200-run mark. 

 

Hands on his head, Rahul sits down on the pitch horrified and thought, "what have I done!"

 

He was on 199; next delivery should have been left; he top edges instead of hitting with the middle of the bat, and that lands into the safe hands of Jos Butler.

 

Read more: Meet the all new Virat Kohli 2.0 - more calm, more mature

 

Rahul then dragged himself off the field, his hands still on his head, clutched the bat too, leaving the joyful stadium to go quiet. The camera immediately focussed on the dressing room where Virat Kohli and others were seen in an equal trauma.

 

 

Although keeping aside Rahul's painful dismissal, the match went on. Karnataka and India had another celebration in store.

 

Rahul's statesman, Karun was still at the crease on day four. He looked as confident as he was the previous day. He notched up his maiden Test century in the early hours of Monday. Maiden hundreds are always special; Karun will cherish this for a lifetime.

 

 

.@karun126 celebrates as he brings up his maiden Test ton @Paytm Test Cricket #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/QXHzSE8lNp

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 19, 2016

 

 

Karnataka cricket team has a huge following, and the Chennai Test will always go as one of their favourites. Although things didn't end as Rahul would have wanted, he still gave their state pure joy along with Karun.