KL Rahul’s Test career hasn’t always been smooth sailing. For years, he was seen as a highly talented player who couldn’t quite convert his starts or deliver consistently in red-ball cricket. There were genuine fears that he might end up as one of Indian cricket’s biggest “what ifs.” But in 2025, Rahul has completely rewritten that narrative.
From being on the fringes of the Test setup to now becoming one of the most dependable openers in world cricket, KL Rahul has found the consistency and mental clarity that once eluded him.
Rahul’s Breakthrough Series in England
Rahul’s resurgence truly began during India’s tour of England, where he delivered a stunning performance in tough conditions. He notched up two centuries and a gritty 90, often standing firm while wickets tumbled around him. His ability to adapt to England’s swinging conditions showed a maturity that hadn’t been on display before.
This purple patch continued into the home season, where Rahul ended a 9-year wait by scoring a century in Indian conditions against the West Indies — a personal milestone that also silenced critics questioning his ability to perform at home.
Mental Adjustments and Batting Tempo
Rahul credits his improvement to one key adjustment: learning to manage and maintain his batting tempo, especially in phases of the game where scoring doesn’t come easy.
“The only thing that I’ve worked on in the last year or so has been maintaining my batting tempo. Just enjoying the phases that are not as exciting for me in my own head,” Rahul said, as quoted by the Times of India.
Scoring in home Tests often requires patience — especially when facing three spinners and spread-out fields. Rahul has learned to embrace this grind, focusing on rotating strike and accumulating runs through singles and twos rather than depending solely on boundaries.
“When you come back home… you really need to get your runs with singles. The boundaries don’t come that easily. That’s something I’ve worked on — enjoying grinding and getting hundreds with singles and twos as well,” he added.
Confidence From Australia ‘A’ and a Fresh Mindset
Rahul didn’t walk into the West Indies series cold. He had a solid tune-up in the second unofficial Test against Australia ‘A’, where he played a match-winning knock of 176* in a record fourth-innings chase of 412. That innings, coupled with his success in England, gave him a major confidence boost.
“Getting runs in England gives you a lot of confidence. I came into this game with some runs behind me. Feeling fresher after a longish break. Yeah, I really enjoyed being back,” Rahul said after his century.
Career Stats on the Rise
KL Rahul’s numbers now reflect the turnaround in form. He currently has 11 Test centuries, and his average has climbed from the low 30s to 36.00. In 2025 alone, he’s averaging an impressive 57.45 from 11 innings, with 10 of those innings played away from home.
What once looked like a career at crossroads is now flourishing. Rahul is no longer just a stylish batter with potential — he’s proving to be one of India’s most consistent and reliable red-ball openers.
