Are KL Rahul’s batting style and technique ideal for English conditions?

Leeds, June 23 (NationPress) Former England opener Nick Knight praised KL Rahul's resilient batting performance during India's second innings in the Headingley Test, asserting that the right-handed wicketkeeper-batter's style and technique are perfectly suited for English conditions. After England concluded their innings at 465 runs on day three, leaving India with a slim six-run advantage, Rahul commenced India's second innings with remarkable caution before displaying his effortless grace with seven boundaries, remaining unbeaten at 47 as India bolstered their lead to 96 runs, finishing at 90/2 in 23.5 overs at the day's end.

Rahul exhibited sheer class with his on-drive and cover-drive against Brydan Carse, while also square-driving Josh Tongue and pulling Shoaib Bashir for boundaries.

"I truly enjoy watching KL Rahul bat. He ranks among my favorite players due to his elegance and control. I sincerely believe his technique and style are tailored for English conditions. He finds a solid rhythm, getting that front foot close to the ball, which enables him to counter any lateral movement—an essential factor here in England," Knight stated on JioHotstar.

"His balance today was remarkable. I observed that England attempted to bowl fuller lengths to him, perhaps trying to coax a shot through mid-wicket. However, when they delivered that in-between length, he was simply too good—showing immense control, composure, and timing. Overall, that opening partnership was exceptional, setting a beautiful tone for India," he added.

After India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal (4) early, Rahul found an ally in Sai Sudharsan, whose soft hands helped him secure two early boundaries, maintaining the momentum on the scoreboard.

Yet, just three overs before the stumps, Sudharsan clipped an inswinger from Ben Stokes to midwicket, where it was easily caught, dismissing him for 30. Rahul and captain Gill then ensured that there were no further wickets lost before the end of the day.

Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar also commended Rahul's nearly flawless innings as “perfection in motion,” while praising Sudharsan's technique.

“We’ve witnessed KL Rahul play many outstanding innings over the years, but I must say—this performance was incredibly close to perfection. Honestly, he made no mistakes. A couple of his cover drives were absolute 10 out of 10s— even the fiercest critics would struggle to find a flaw. It was perfection in motion. KL Rahul carries a lot of responsibility, and he’s managing it brilliantly. Touch wood, he appears to be in excellent rhythm.

As for Sai Sudharsan, it was encouraging to see him score some runs. He might be disappointed for not converting it into a bigger score because, as a batter, once you surpass 30, you feel like you’ve assessed the attack and done the difficult part. But that’s what makes him unique—his old-school approach. He plays the ball late, remaining very still at the crease, without exaggerated movements—just classic technique. His short-arm jab, cover drive, and straight drive are pure textbook material.”

With Gill unbeaten on six and Rahul at 47 not out, India will be eager to accumulate more runs on day four after rain truncated day three’s activities.