KL Rahul has received high praise from former cricketer Ashish Nehra after his impressive performance in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. With key players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma absent due to retirement, KL Rahul stepped up as the most experienced batter in India’s Test side and played a key role in levelling the five-match series 2-2. KL Rahul scored 532 runs across 10 innings, averaging a solid 53.2, as he looked composed and assured throughout, even under pressure.
After scoring two magnificent hundreds at Trent Bridge and Lord’s, KL Rahul just missed out on his third century of the tour of England in Manchester. The elegant Indian opener KL Rahul played a gritty and restrained knock of 90 in the decisive third innings of the fourth Test, helping the tourists come out unscathed with a draw.
KL Rahul played his first Test in England at Edgbaston from August 1 to 4 in 2018, and in that he batted at No. 3 in both innings but was only able to score 4 and 13 runs. However, in the next 12 fixtures in England, he has always opened the innings.
Most Test runs as opener for India in England
- Sunil Gavaskar – 1152 in 16 matches
- KL Rahul – 1146 in 14 matches
1000-plus runs for Indian openers in away countries
- 1404 – Sunil Gavaskar in West Indies
- 1152 – Sunil Gavaskar in England
- 1146- KL Rahul in England
- 1001 – Sunil Gavaskar in Pakistan
KL Rahul has impressed with his batting performances in the ongoing India-England Test series. He scored 42 runs in the first innings of the series opener played at Headingley in Leeds from June 20 to 24 and amassed a total of 137 runs in the second. But despite his super show with the bat, India suffered a heartbreaking defeat by 5 wickets.
In the first innings of the second Test played at Edgbaston from July 2 to 6, Rahul got out for just two runs, but in the second innings, he hammered 55 runs. In the third Test played at Lord’s, KL Rahul scored 100 runs in the first innings and 39 in the second. He is the second Indian batter after Dilip Vengsarkar to score multiple Test centuries at Lord’s. KL Rahul returned back at Manchester with India at deep trouble 0 for 2 and scored a gritty 90 runs .
Former Indian wicket keeper Dinesh Karthik was in all praise of this Indian opener and believed that he will end a career on a high praising his heroics in England.
KL Rahul will end his career with an average of 45.00 after his phenomenal series in England exclaims Dinesh Karthik
Former India-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik has predicted that senior opener KL Rahul will have an average on 45 by the time he finishes his Test career. Admitting that it would be a tough proposition for a 33 year-old to get ato the figure, Dinesh Karthik still has shown faith behind the star batter.
Opening the batting , KL Rahul has scored 532 runs in 10 innings at an average at 53,20 ending his most special series on a high. KL Rahul was the third leading run getter in the series behind Shubman Gill(754 runs ) and Joe Root (537 runs ).Though KL Rahul made a big impact in the Test series in England, the talented batter has an under whelming average of 35,41after 63 matches in the format. While admitting that KL Rahul’s average doesn’t do justice to his talent, Dinesh Karthik made a big prediction on the Karnataka cricketer on Cricbuzz :
“I have a doubt that he’s going to change that to around 45-48. It’s really hard because he has played 60 Test matches. But, take it from me; KL Rahul will finish with an average of 45.”
Dinesh Karthik praised KL Rahul, who shouldered a lot of responsibility in the England series , being one of the senior prosin the team following the retirement of some big names. The 40- year old Karthik elaborated :
“As a pre-cursor to the series, three big names retired – Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin. Walking into the series, there were two big names with experience in batting – one is KL Rahul, one is [Ravindra Jadeja].
“KL Rahul has had great start to many a series, but has not finished strong. But I think, in this series, that young boy has actually grown into a man. He shouldered responsibility. He is probably the most technically sound player across both teams. And he backed his technique. Under pressure, he said, I will stick to my game plan and back my defensive skill,” Karthik went on to add.
Rahul kicked of the 2025 Anderson -Tendulkar Trophy 2025 , with scores of 42 and 137 at Leeds . He contributed 55 runs in the second innings in Birmingham and followed it up with 100 and 39 at Lord’s and 49 and 90 at Manchester. The opener ended the series with low scores of 14 and 7 at The Oval.
While Rahul’s overall Test numbers are disappointing , he has a pretty good red-ball cricket record in England. In 14 matches in England , he has scored 1146 runs at an average of 40.92 , with four hundreds and three half-centuries. The right-handed batter scored 149 at The Oval in 2018 and a match-winning 129 at Lord’s in 2021. He also scored 84 in Nottingham during the same tour.
Rahul’s disciplined and patient approach in this Test series marked a tectonic shift in his Test career. Earlier, KL Rahul’s red-ball career was a tale of inconsistency, but in England, he turned a switch and came out as one of the best batters in the series.
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