Irfan Pathan has voiced his disappointment with KL Rahul's dismissal in the first innings of the ongoing Test match against England at Headingley. Rahul, a senior batter in the Indian Test team, failed to convert his promising start into a substantial score, ultimately getting out for 42.

Pathan expressed his views during a discussion on Sony Sports, highlighting that Rahul's dismissal was particularly frustrating because "playing flashy shots is not his strength." He acknowledged the strong start India had, with the openers adding over 50 runs – a feat not achieved in Headingley for 39 years. However, he believes Rahul's wicket was avoidable.

Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal had built a solid 91-run partnership, weathering the new ball and seemingly settling into a good rhythm. Pathan pointed out that Rahul had played a few risky shots earlier in his innings, where the ball went in the air, suggesting he could have been dismissed even before his eventual wicket. The former Indian all-rounder emphasized the importance of capitalizing on a good start, especially after having "made the ball old and downed their spirits."

The specific delivery that led to Rahul's dismissal was a fullish ball outside off-stump from Brydon Carse, which moved away slightly. Rahul edged the ball, and it was caught by Joe Root at first slip.

Pathan contrasted Rahul's approach with that of Yashasvi Jaiswal, suggesting that playing aggressive shots would be more understandable from Jaiswal, as it aligns with his natural game. He implied that Rahul needs to take more responsibility as an opener and play with greater circumspection, especially after getting set.

RP Singh, also participating in the discussion, observed that Rahul's timing was good when he managed to get close to the pitch of the ball. However, he noted that on the dismissal ball, Rahul's foot movement wasn't decisive enough, potentially leading to the edge. Singh also alluded to the possibility that Rahul succumbed to the temptation of scoring quickly after getting settled.

Jaiswal, who scored a century, credited Rahul for his guidance during their partnership, stating that he gained valuable insights from Rahul on where runs could be scored and how to build an innings.