KL Rahul's dedication to the Indian cricket team has drawn widespread praise after he chose to join the squad in England ahead of the Test series, despite only recently becoming a father in March. His commitment has been lauded as an example of prioritizing country and team before personal matters.

Hemang Badani, the Delhi Capitals head coach, has been particularly vocal in highlighting Rahul's commitment. Badani noted that Rahul, now the senior-most batter in the Test team following the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, could have easily opted for a break after the birth of his child. Instead, Rahul played the entirety of the IPL season and then immediately headed to England to prepare for the Test series.

"I really liked the fact that he was someone who said, 'I want to go to England early. I want to play the side game,'" Badani said, emphasizing the significance of Rahul's intent to be prepared and with the team. He further added, "Forget about the hundred he got — that came later. The intent — that's what matters. The intent to be there early, to be prepared, to be with the side. Let's not forget, he's a young father, and I don't think his child is travelling with him initially. So for him to say, 'Country over my child' — that's a huge call."

Rahul's early arrival in England saw him participate in a four-day match for India A against England Lions, providing him with valuable acclimatization to the English conditions and the Duke's ball. This decision to play in the India A game further underscored his commitment, as Badani pointed out, "He could've easily said, 'I'm not playing the side game anyway, I'll just go straight to the Test match.' But he didn't."

Rahul's dedication was validated when he scored a brilliant century in the second innings of the first Test at Headingley. His innings of 137 helped India set a target of 371, demonstrating his importance to the team's batting lineup. Before the series, Rahul himself stated, "I care for this team, and I want to be here."

Rahul's commitment is not just about scoring runs; it's also about taking on responsibility and guiding the younger players in the team. As a senior player, he has been seen mentoring players like Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. This leadership role is crucial as India transitions into a new era of Test cricket.

While India lost the first Test, Rahul's performance and leadership were bright spots. Despite the loss, his commitment to the team and his willingness to put in the hard yards have been widely appreciated. The second Test is scheduled to begin on July 2nd at Edgbaston, Birmingham, and India will be looking to bounce back with Rahul playing a key role.