After his impressive century at Leeds, KL Rahul shared how his mindset in international cricket has changed recently. He mentioned that he’s now focused on enjoying the game and hitting the ball, rather than just thinking about the number of runs.
KL has been on a roll in various conditions, scoring his third century in England and sixth in SENA countries. His performance, along with a solid partnership with Rishabh Pant, helped set a target of 371 runs for the hosts. Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, KL reflected on how he previously struggled to turn starts into big scores, particularly in Tests, but now feels calm and isn’t fixated on numbers.
He acknowledged the support he received from former assistant coach Abhishek Nayar over the past year and a half. They worked on going back to basics, allowing him to hit more balls in practice again.
KL’s been having a good year, playing various roles across formats. Before the 2023 Cricket World Cup, he solidified his position as a key number five in ODIs, scoring 452 runs in 11 matches during the tournament, including a record-fast century against the Netherlands. After the World Cup, he adapted to a number six finisher’s role, contributing well in the ICC Champions Trophy, where he averaged 140.00.
In the IPL, KL scored 539 runs in 13 innings, with a strike rate of 149.72. While he has also done well in the middle order, he feels most at home as an opener, where he has solid numbers over his Test career.
KL admitted he’s a bit bothered by his batting average but is trying not to focus on stats anymore. He wants to make an impact whenever he plays and enjoys Test cricket, which is what he loved growing up.
As for the ongoing Test match, KL described the final day as blockbuster and noted that the pitch might crack, making for an interesting finish. He observed that batting on the fourth day wasn’t as easy and gave India a chance.
In the ongoing Leeds Test, England’s openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, finished day four without losing a wicket, setting up a gripping final day. They are chasing a target of 371 runs and are currently at 21/0 with both batsmen playing cautiously.
During India’s second innings, KL’s stellar knock helped set a solid target, but they faced a batting collapse toward the end of their innings, finishing with only 364 runs. The difference in contribution from the top and bottom order was evident, stressing the importance of top performances.
Despite some setbacks, KL and Rishabh Pant’s partnership gave India a fighting chance, and it will be interesting to see how they defend their target in the final stretch of the match.