From KL to Rahul bhai – Indian opener finds his Zen mode in England

Indian Express

4 days ago

The question before the series was whether KL Rahul was a consistently good batsman or a batsman who just played good knocks. It was something that bothered the batsman too. Few days before this Test, he would bump into his one-time team mate Cheteshwar Pujara and share with him his goals for this England tour. Rahul wanted to convert his good starts into great hundreds.
Words can follow but the numbers rest Rahul's case. The Indian opener's scoring sequence in the forgettable Australia tour was – 26, 77, 37, 7, 84, 4*, 24, 0, 4, 13. In England it has been – 42, 137, 2, 55, 100. From just two 50s in 5 Tests, Rahul has 2 hundreds and 1 fifty in two Tests here. Now, it seems he is a good batsman with good knocks. India's new senior-most batsman is doing what seniors are supposed to be doing.
From being 'KL' to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, he now is the 'big brother' that this young team calls him 'Rahul bhai.' In Indian cricket that addressing comes with responsibility. Rahul isn't a Rohit or Virat, he is a throwback. He is more Dravid.
It's been just six months into 2025 but this has been a milestone year for Rahul. This March he became a father, this IPL he found his peace and this time in England he figured out the art of Test match batting.
A second appearance on the Lord's Honours Board for @klrahul ?? pic.twitter.com/faRiHxkVJg
— Lord's Cricket Ground (@HomeOfCricket) July 12, 2025
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From the time England was batting on this strangely cryptic surface and finding run-making difficult, it was said that the one India batsman equipped to score runs here was Rahul. Not among India's stroke makers like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill or Rishabh Pant; the seasoned opener had the technique to deal with the pitch that changes its character each day, every session. He also had that one important characteristic – he could control his urges.
The English bowlers, as directed by skipper Ben Stokes, kept tempting Rahul. This morning Jofra Archer, from the pavilion end, would test the two overnight batsmen – Rahul and Pant with a barrage of bumpers. In the game's 54th over, the ball changed a couple of times before Archer bowled to Rahul with a virtual unguarded off-side. No third man, no deep point, no sweeper cover, no long off but there were slips and fielders in the point region.
Archer would bowl a series of harmless short balls outside off-stump. This was an invite for Rahul to play the ramp shot or lift them over the in-field. Early in the day, these were slightly risky shots but also an opportunity to get some easy runs. Maybe, Rahul of BGT or before would have thrown his hands at the ball but not Rahul of 2025. Soon, the bowlers would tire and attack the stumps.
Brydon Carse would be called to the task. England was playing into India's hands, this is the line Rahul has liked in this Test. This is where he has scored most of his runs. Carse would come running and with his big jump with a microsecond of jump time bring the ball into the batsman from the corner of the crease. Rahul would wait for the ball and guide it to square leg and get boundaries. And in case he would bowl on the off, he would drive it through covers. In one Carse over, 54th of the inning, Rahul scored 3 successive boundaries.
Having negotiated the all-important first session of the Test's moving day, Day 3, Rahul would be in 90s with lunch round the corner. Pant and Rahul, for the second time in the series, were having an important partnership. They are an odd couple with contrasting batting approaches. One copy book, the other the inventor and executor of all audacious strokes. After their partnership at Headingley, Rahul, like an indulgent elder, had said how he lets Pant be himself and enjoys his audacious strokes. Though, Rahul does mentor him when the two bat together.
Here at Lord's Pant thought of doing his partner a favour. In the last over before lunch, the wicket-keeper ran a tight single so that 'Rahul bhai' gets his hundred and has a happy meal. It proved to be a wrong call and Pant would get run out. At the start of the second session, Rahul would complete the formality and reach 100. But was soon out, caught in the slips while trying to guide a Shoaib Basheer off-spinner to cover point and take a single.
Having played 177 balls, Rahul had done his bit for the team, a role he has smoothly settled in now. He has moved on from his difficult past. During this IPL there was this Rahul's almost expressionless formal greeting to his former franchise owner, LSG's Sanjeev Goenka, a team with which he has a history, seen as an ultimate act of coolness.
After his last hundred, he had spoken about his new mind space. He said he has understood that hard work and runs don't have a connection but being committed to your process was the only way to survive the brutal world of professional sport. Rahul, also said that since he was now out of the captaincy race, he has clarity about his role as 'doubts and questions in the head have been put to rest'. Rahul has found his niche and peace. Rahul, the batsman, is in the zone. Rahul, the cricketer, is in Zen mode.