Ashish Nehra has heaped praise on KL Rahul for stepping up as a leader in the absence of stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
The wk-batter made some important knocks and also guided a young team as India fought hard to draw the series 2-2 after a famous 6-run win at The Oval. He stepped up as the most experienced batter in India’s test side and played a key role in the five-match series.
KL Rahul went on to score 532 runs across 10 innings, averaging a solid 53.2 as he looked composed and assured throughout, even under pressure.
Speaking on the media, Ashish Nehra acknowledged KL Rahul’s maturity and sense of responsibility, particularly with a young team around him.
“He was an experienced batter. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were not there. There were a few young players. An England tour is not easy. No matter how much you discuss that the pitches in the first two Tests were the flattest, you still need to score runs on that, and this player showed that by doing it,” Nehra said.
Ashish Nehra pointed out that Rahul got to bat in his preferred position at the top of the order, which allowed him to settle and lead by example.
“As an opener, when you are the most experienced player in the team, that must be in your mind. The experienced players like him and Jasprit Bumrah did their job fully. It felt good that he got a chance to play at the number he has been playing for a long time. He made the most of the opportunity he got at the right place,” he added.
KL Rahul went on to hit two centuries and two fifties and only skipper Shubman Gill scored more for India finishing with 754 runs. With KL Rahul’s ability to adapt to conditions and played within his strengths.
Former Indian player RP Singh, who joined the same discussion panel, highlighted the technical and mental adjustments Rahul made to succeed in the English conditions.
“I feel KL Rahul had made a strong decision before the series about which shots he had to avoid. The bat was always close to his body. He only drove the fuller-length balls. He tried to take singles off the length balls. He also shared his experience with the captain,” he said.
He went on to add KL Rahul was not only managing his own game but also guiding his partners during crucial moments in the match.
“While batting, at times, you have to tell your partner how much the ball is swinging or what he can correct during the match. He tried that with a few people, although he didn’t do it with Rishabh Pant. However, he was exchanging words with the other batters,” Singh said.
His discipline and patient approach in the test series marked a major shift in his test career. Until now, KL Rahul’s red-ball career was a tale of consistency, but in England, he turned a switch and came out as one of the best batters in the series.
