KL Rahul has been one of India’s top performers in white-cricket. Now stand-in Test captain, is looking to stamp his authority as an opener in red-ball format with consistent performances. After KL Rahul's match-winning century in Centurion, the Karnataka batter's long-time coach Samuel Jayaraj opened up on the discussion that he had with him before the England tour that led to the turnaround.
Coach Jayaraj spoke about how closely they worked on certain specific aspects while Rahul was out of the team. “There was a big mental change. He started listening more,” Jayaraj told Wisden India.
Rahul scored a magnificent 129 off 260 deliveries in the first innings that took India’s total to 327 against South Africa in first Test. His brilliant century on Day 1 laid the foundation for one of India’s finest wins in the rainbow nation.
“Before the England series, we had a conversation. I said ‘Do you remember the three hundreds you scored for U15s?’ He just said one thing – ‘That means I have to play close to the body. That is all, sir’. That is all. He understood,” he added.
The 29-year-old surely took this advice from his coach seriously, having scored the difficult runs in England and South Africa. The hard work has paid off, since his return to Tests, Rahul has batted like a dream, scoring hundreds at Lords and in Centurion “For me, he batted in England, just like an U15 boy, more disciplined innings,” Jayaraj says “Even in South Africa, he batted like that.:
“The mind was mature. As a person he is mature. At the age of 24-27, it is the mind that has to play. Not much in the technique. That is the area where he has become stronger,” he further added.
Rahul was earlier made the vice-captain in the limited overs. Following Rohit Sharma’s injury Rahul was made Virat Kohli’s deputy in the longest form of the game and also the captain for the white-ball series in South Africa. Kohli’s back injury before the second test meant the mantle of Test captaincy too fell on Rahul’s shoulders.
