Leeds: After spending the past few years adapting to various batting roles, KL Rahul says he’s finally found his comfort zone again — at the top of the order. The Indian opener, who struck a sublime 137 in the second innings of the first Test against England at Headingley, reflected on the joy of returning to a familiar role after a period of constant change.
“In the last couple of years, I’d honestly forgotten what my position is,” Rahul admitted during the post-day press conference. “I’ve floated around a lot, taking up different roles — from opening to playing as low as No. 6. While I’ve enjoyed the challenges, opening the batting is what I grew up doing and it feels good to be back doing that job for the team.”
Rahul’s century, along with Rishabh Pant’s explosive 118, formed the backbone of India’s second innings total of 364. The duo stitched together a crucial 195-run partnership for the fourth wicket, helping India recover from an early blow and set England a challenging 371-run target.
As day four ended with England at 21/0 in their chase, Rahul remained upbeat about India’s chances of taking a 1-0 lead in the series. “There’s definitely going to be a result tomorrow,” he said. “England have made their intentions clear, which gives us a great opportunity to go for the win and pick up those 10 wickets.”
The right-hander acknowledged that the surface had started showing signs of wear on day four and could offer more help to bowlers on the final day. “Today was tricky. Tomorrow, it might break up a bit more. We’ll give ourselves the best chance — the bowling unit has done it before, and we back them to do it again.”
Despite India’s strong position, Rahul revealed the team had considered pushing their lead even further. “At tea, we did talk about the ideal total. Ideally, we’d have liked 40 more runs on the board,” he said. “But we also wanted to give our bowlers a crack at them before stumps.”
For Rahul, the Headingley hundred was more than just numbers — it was a personal milestone, marking his return to form and rhythm in a position he cherishes most. “I’m enjoying my cricket again. Opening gives me clarity, and I’m happy contributing in a role that suits me and benefits the team.”
With the Test finely poised and a dramatic finish in sight, Rahul’s knock has not only anchored India’s innings but also reasserted his position as a key figure at the top of the order — a role he’s once again proud to call his own.
