The Indian team started off on a dominating note, as they put up 288 runs with the loss of two wickets by the end of Day 1 in Galle. The men under the captaincy of Shubman Gill are touring Sri Lanka for a two-game Test series that kicked off on Saturday, August 15 at the Galle International Stadium. The game also marks India’s historic 600th Test, a must-win for the Indian team to win in order to keep their WTC Final hopes alive. Day 1 began with visiting skipper Shubman Gill winning the toss and inviting the rivals to field first.

While the guests aimed to exert dominance early in the rain-hit game, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s bizarre dismissal came in as a setback. However, his co-opener and Devdutt Padikkal took reins in their hands and put on a crucial 150-run partnership in 252 balls. The Indian opener put up 77 runs in 162 runs before severe cramps forced him to retire hurt. While it came in as a matter of serious concern for the visiting camp and fans alike considering the importance of the series, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak addressed concerns regarding the Indian Vice-Captain.

After the end of Day 1’s play, Kotak assured fans and media that Rahul’s issue was nothing more than mild cramping and he will resume play on Day 2. "KL batted really well. I think he was getting only cramps. So by the end of the day, he was fine. Probably once you start getting cramps, you get it in the hamstring, you get it in the groin, you get it in your hand. But at the moment he looks absolutely fine. So he should be good to go tomorrow," Kotak said in the post-day press conference.

What Happened to KL Rahul on Opening Day of First Test?

The Indian vice-captain suffered severe cramps at the start of the final session. Though he received treatment from the physio after his cramp in right forearm surfaced in the 51st over, he couldn’t hold his bat property before the start of the final session.

He signalled to the umpires that he was in extreme discomfort, before things quickly worsened for the batter as he started feeling contractions in his left hand and wrist. Moreover, the muscle spasm also started affecting his legs, and the batter was unable to continue. He had to be assisted off the field by the team physio and the batter even found it difficult to climb the dressing room stairs.

Notably, Rahul eventually retired hurt with India on 138/1, bringing an end to an innings that provided India with a solid platform following an early setback.