Day 2 of the 1st Test between India and the West Indies in Ahmedabad saw KL Rahul register a composed knock to score his second Test century on home soil, his first in India since December 2016 against England. Speaking exclusively on JioHotstar’s post-match show ‘Amul Cricket Live’, Rahul reflected on his transformation over the past few months, his evolving role as a senior player in the dressing room, and the balance he has found in his game plan as an opener. He also praised Ravindra Jadeja’s consistency and adaptability with the bat.
Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Amul Cricket Live about his transformation in his batting over the last 8–9 months, KL Rahul said: “I think I’m feeling very confident in myself and in my game. I’ve worked really hard on certain aspects — not so much technically, but more mentally — just understanding the tempo I need to bat at. The last series we played here in India against New Zealand, I played one game and then wasn’t part of the next two Tests. That was the time I really sat down to reflect on how I could turn things around — what I was doing right, and what I wasn’t. Since the England series, once I got some runs under my belt, it gave me the confidence to just go out there and execute my plans. I’ve tried to keep my cricket simple — watch the ball, score runs, and enjoy the game. When you have runs behind you, it becomes much easier to do that.”
On his role as a senior player and mindset shift:
“I don’t know if it’s happened organically, but I’ve generally not thought too much about it. Of course, I miss having those two or three senior guys around in the dressing room—most of my Test career has been with them. When I walked into the dressing room in England and saw Rohit, Virat, and Ashwin not around, it felt a little strange because they had always been there. Somewhere along the way, you get the sense that, as a senior player, you need to step up and take a bit more responsibility, so that the younger guys can focus on their cricket without feeling burdened. Even the way Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill have started talking to me has been slightly different, which gives you that sense that you need to step up and try to fill in some big boots. At the end of the day, though, I just try to do my job, and I’m happy that I’m doing it well so far.”
On finding balance in his innings as an opener:
“It’s all about how you plan your innings and stick to your game plan. What stands out is that every batter has a specific game plan — if their plan is to attack, they commit to it. For me, as an opener, my role is to negate the new ball, see through the first 10–15 overs, and give the team a solid start. Once the spinners come on, I look for the scoring pockets depending on the wicket, bounce, spin, and the bowlers I’m facing. I prepare with a broad plan before the Test and then make adjustments based on conditions. Having played enough Tests now, I understand how to do that. But if I walk into a match without a plan, I’ve always struggled a lot more to score runs.”
On expectations and numbers:
“I don’t let numbers bother me, but of course, I see them. Every batter would want their stats to be as high as possible. Right now, though, my focus is on sticking to my game plan, playing the way I want, and enjoying my cricket. When I tick those boxes, the runs usually follow, and the numbers improve naturally. It’s important to take things step by step and not rush ahead. Yes, there’s always expectation and pressure—cricket is a numbers game at the end of the day—but I try to focus on the simple things I can control and leave the rest to God.”
On Ravindra Jadeja’s batting role and contribution:
“What stands out with Jadeja is how simple he keeps his game. He’s always had the technique to play both spin and pace, and he’s always been solid in Indian conditions. In recent years, he has shown that same quality overseas—in England, Australia, and South Africa. Today, his approach was slightly different from his usual hundreds. Normally, he likes to take his time before dominating the spinners, but this time he went after them straight away because the field was up. Once the field spread out, he rotated the strike and built his innings smartly. He’s the most experienced player in the dressing room and knows how to construct big innings — he’s scored triple hundreds in Ranji Trophy. Batting at No. 6 gives him more time to build an innings, and he has been doing the job expected of him. It’s reassuring that when the top order doesn’t fire, we have Jadeja and others in the lower middle order to step up.”
Catch the action from Day 3 of the 1st Test of the West Indies tour of India 9.30 am onwards on Saturday, LIVE on JioHotstar and the Star Sports Network