Was it a mistake for KL Rahul to rush for his century?

London, July 13 (NationPress) India opener KL Rahul acknowledged that his eagerness to score a century before lunch on the third day of the Lord's Test resulted in Rishabh Pant’s unfortunate run-out, which he described as "not ideal" for India's efforts to seize the lead.

During the last over leading up to lunch, Pant was dismissed for 74 as he attempted to get Rahul back on strike to achieve his century. Rahul, only the second Indian to feature on the Lord's honours board multiple times, reached his milestone after lunch but was dismissed shortly after, leaving India at 254 for 5.

"We discussed this a couple of overs prior. I told him I would aim for my hundred before lunch. With Bashir bowling the final over before the break, I thought it was a good opportunity, but unfortunately, I hit straight to the fielder. It was a shot I could have sent to the boundary," Rahul shared with reporters post-match.

"Pant wanted to rotate the strike and get me back on. However, that run-out shouldn't have occurred: it significantly shifted the momentum. It was disappointing for both of us. No one wishes to lose their wicket in that manner," he added.

Rahul's century at Lord's, following his ton in Leeds and a half-century in Birmingham, marks his fourth Test century in England, tying him for the second-most by an Indian batter in the country alongside Rishabh Pant, Sachin Tendulkar, and Dilip Vengsarkar. Rahul had previously achieved a triple-figure score at the venue in 2021 during India's thrilling victory over the hosts.

He noted that over the past two years, he has been collaborating with a specialist who has assisted him with reaction-time training similar to what Formula 1 drivers utilize.

"In the past year, I've focused on various mental drills. I spent time with an expert who helped enhance my reaction time. These are mental exercises designed to improve reaction time and similar skills," Rahul elaborated.

"Many other sports implement these techniques... I've observed it a lot in Formula 1. I learned this from a colleague I worked with in Salzburg. My connection with Red Bull provided me the chance to collaborate with coaches who work with elite Formula 1 participants and athletes in extreme sports who require strong mental conditioning.

"I've focused on that, and I believe it's been the only notable change over the past year. I've always enjoyed batting for extended periods, even from a young age. I find joy in lengthy batting sessions, and I think both that and this new approach have aided my performance in recent years," he stated.

Following three days of riveting action, the scores were even in the third Test at Lord’s, as England bowled India out for 387 in 119.2 overs during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series.