Trisha Ghosal in London
In a Test match that has simmered rather than exploded, India and England find themselves locked after three days—both sides posting identical first-innings totals of 387. But as fans debated over lost overs and ball changes, the drama of Day 3’s final moments added another layer. KL Rahul, who anchored India’s innings with his second hundred of the series, fronted the media at stumps and addressed everything from his form to Rishabh Pant’s injury, and Shubman Gill’s animated send-off to the day.
“Bit of theatrics” – Was the last-over drama avoidable?
England chose not to bat two overs in the six minutes remaining before stumps, triggering animated reactions from Shubman Gill and others in the Indian camp. Rahul, however, brushed it off.
“Yeah, it was a bit of theatrics,” he said. “We were pumped either way. We know how hard it is for a batter to walk in for two overs after a long day in the field. But even without all that, we would have been fired up anyway. After three days of hard-fought cricket, both teams are back to zero. Now it comes down to the final two days.”
“He was in pain, but wanted to fight” – On Pant’s injury and the run-out
Pant was visibly struggling with a hand injury when he was run out trying to rotate strike to allow Rahul a shot at his century before lunch.
“There was a conversation a couple of overs before – I told him I’ll try for the hundred if the opportunity came,” said Rahul. “That ball could’ve gone for four, but I hit it straight to the fielder.
“And he just tried to put me back on strike. But yeah, it shouldn’t have happened. It changed the momentum. He was in a lot of pain… getting hit on the gloves, unable to grip the bat properly. But he wanted to fight for the team.”
“No magic fix – just time, discipline, and Formula One drills”
Rahul revealed a significant mental shift behind his consistency at the top, attributing it to reaction training and psychological work he did with Red Bull coaches in Salzburg.
“I’ve worked on mental drills and reaction-time games, things used in Formula One,” he said. “That’s helped me stay focused for long periods. I’ve always enjoyed batting for long hours, and this has only added to that strength.”
“Adapt, survive, score” – His revised approach in English conditions
Asked whether he was consciously toning down flair for stability, Rahul replied: “I’m just doing what’s needed on that day. When you’re opening, you’ve got the responsibility to lay a solid foundation. That means holding back sometimes. There are pockets of the ground I aim for depending on the situation. It’s about reading the moment and executing.”
“Consistency is the one thing I’ve always wanted”
This has been a landmark tour for Rahul—two centuries and a half-century so far. “That’s something I’ve strived for all my career—to be consistent, and to be someone the team can count on,” he said. “The passion and hunger have always been there. I’m glad the performances are starting to match that now.”
“Shubman and I are opposites—until we bat together”
Rahul was also asked about his chemistry with Shubman Gill, given their contrasting styles. “The most common thing is our love for batting under pressure,” he said. “I admire the way he bats. Some days, I dream of playing shots like him. We’ve spent time together at the NCA during rehab, and that’s when I realised how deeply he thinks about the game. We’ve got different styles but we connect over cricket.”
“No big changes—just clarity and purpose”
Finally, Rahul dismissed any talk of technical reinvention.
“I haven’t changed my guard or stance much,” he said. “I always stand where I’m most comfortable, it helps me watch the ball better and use my arms freely. Only if the pitch has extra bounce would I consider tweaking it. I’ve just stuck to what works for me.”
As the Test now heads into its final two days, Rahul signed off with clarity: “It’s back to zero. Time to hunt for ten wickets. That’s the focus.”
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