India's veteran batter KL Rahul made his presence felt in the just-concluded Test series against England. No batter in modern cricket has been as polarising as KL Rahul. A sense of calm settled over the team when he was slotted into the top of the batting order for the challenging English tour. Across five grueling Test matches, Rahul didn't just score runs but also silenced his critics. His technique was precise, his shot selection was measured, and his impact on the team was undeniable. He stood like a Rock of Gibraltar whenever the chips were down.
Moeen Ali in awe of KL Rahul
Rahul's remarkable return to form during the series was certainly one of the highlights of the five-match tightly contested battle. According to former England all-rounder Moeen Ali, this incredible comeback hasn't received the credit it truly deserves. Moeen did acknowledge Shubman Gill's superlative showing with the bat but as per him Rahul's role within the side was the best he has seen play over the years
“I think people don’t realise how good someone like KL Rahul is, particularly in opening the batting. He was brilliant last series as well in England, and he is brilliant again this series. I actually think Shubman scored the most runs and was outstanding, but I thought KL’s role within the side was probably the best I have seen him play over the years," said Moeen the Beard Before Wicket podcast.
"He is such a good player, and I genuinely believe that he’s one of the best players in the world, and I have said that for a while. Sometimes I just feel he doesn’t take the handbrake off, just free up a bit more, but generally I would say he’s one of the best players in the world,” he added.
Rahul showcased exceptional form during the series, scoring his ninth Test hundred at Leeds and his tenth at Lord's. With his century at Lord's, he became the first Indian opener and only the second Indian player ever—after Dilip Vengsarkar—to score multiple Test centuries at the iconic venue. This second hundred was particularly meaningful as it marked a return to the same ground where he first earned a spot on the honours board back in 2021.
The veteran batter ended up accumulating 532 runs at a commendable batting average of 88.5.
Moeen's podcast co-host and former teammate, leg-spinner Adil Rashid, was also full of praise for Rahul's performance.
“He (KL Rahul) goes under the radar. Like this series, how he has batted, his tempo, his technique. You speak of the art of batting in Test cricket... Going forward, going back, so there is a lot of that in it. It was really tight in defence but then half volleys he drove. That was his game in order. He looked very comfortable and his game was in order. And that’s the first time you have probably seen that over a period of five games where he consistently looked right. This guy looks class. He looks really good in defence, in attack,” Rashid followed.