New Delhi: India wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul revealed that transitioning from the fast-paced Indian Premier League to Test cricket was not entirely straightforward, admitting he occasionally felt the urge to play aggressive shots during his century against Afghanistan. However, he insisted that carrying some influence from T20 cricket is not necessarily a disadvantage.
Rahul’s composed innings of 100 off 165 balls laid the foundation for India’s dominance on Day 3 of the one-off Test. The century was his 12th in Test cricket and showcased a blend of patience, discipline and elegant stroke play.
Reflecting on the shift from IPL cricket to the longest format, Rahul acknowledged that the recent T20 season remained fresh in his mind. The experienced batter had enjoyed an excellent IPL 2026 campaign, finishing as Delhi Capitals’ leading run-scorer with 593 runs in 14 matches at an average of 45.61 and a strike rate of 174.41.
Rahul said he consciously avoided overthinking the transition and instead focused on adapting his shot selection to the match situation and playing conditions.
He explained that while the instinct to attack was still present after months of T20 cricket, he worked on balancing aggression with the demands of Test cricket. Rather than restricting himself completely, Rahul aimed to remain aware of which shots were appropriate against specific bowlers and on a particular surface.
After receiving an early reprieve, Rahul settled into his innings and produced a masterclass in controlled batting. His knock featured a range of classical strokes, including crisp cover drives, elegant on-drives and a trademark straight drive among his 11 boundaries.
The right-hander also played a key role in a 139-run partnership with fellow batter Sai Sudharsan, who adopted a more aggressive approach after India lost opener Yashasvi Jaiswal early in the innings.
Alongside skipper Shubman Gill, who remained unbeaten on 103, Rahul’s century helped India take firm control of the Test, underlining the value of adapting between formats while retaining confidence in one’s natural game.
