Young Pakistani fast bowler Rajaula made his debut Test memorable. During the match at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham against England, Rajaula initially took four wickets in the first innings. Then, the 21-year-old player demonstrated impressive form in the second innings on September 11th (Friday).
He scored 81 runs off just 63 balls, including 9 sixes and 4 fours. Rajaula came onto the field when Pakistan's score in the second innings was 312/7, and England held the advantage. Although the team trailed by 320 runs after the first innings, half-centuries from Azan Awais (59 runs), Shan Masood (95 runs), and captain Babar Azam (76 runs) helped the team stay in the fight.
Rajaula, along with Mohammad Abbas, put on a magnificent partnership for the ninth wicket, scoring 121 runs, which allowed Pakistan to escape a difficult situation. Ultimately, Pakistan scored 449 runs in the second innings, setting a target of 130 runs against England. Rajaula reached 81 runs off 97 overs before being dismissed after being bowled by Dan Lawrence.
Rajaula equaled Tim Smith's record from New Zealand for the most sixes in one innings on a Test debut. Smith hit 9 sixes in his debut match against England in 2008. What was special for Rajaula was that he set a record for the highest number of sixes in a debut match on foreign soil. Previously, this record belonged to Kyle Myers of the West Indies, who hit 7 sixes in his debut match against Bangladesh in 2021.
His innings of 81 runs was also the largest score for a player coming in at number 9 in a debut Test match. He tied Corbin Bosch of South Africa, who scored an unbeaten 81 runs against Pakistan in 2024.
Rajaula's explosive performance also impacted the team's statistics. In the second innings, the Pakistan team collectively hit 12 sixes, which is the third-highest number of sixes hit by the Pakistan team in a single Test.
After his powerful innings, Rajaula stated that his goal was to bat for as long as possible. He mentioned that he utilized opportunities when the bowler delivered the ball into his preferred zone. Rajaula also shared that both his bats broke during the match, but he was not discouraged. He emphasized that when playing for one's country, there is no fear, and he enjoyed every moment on the field.