KL Rahul's impressive form in England during the 2025 Test series has been a major talking point in the cricket world. The Indian opener has displayed remarkable consistency and solid technique, earning praise from experts and fans alike. What's the secret to his success? According to former England captain Nasser Hussain, it's all about meticulous preparation and a keen understanding of his own game.
During IPL 2025, Hussain had a conversation with Rahul where he discovered the India star's approach to preparing for the series. Rahul revealed that he relies on a "little book" where he jots down notes and observations from previous tours to England. He revisits these notes before a series to remind himself of the strategies and techniques that brought him success in the past.
"Spoke to him in India when I went out. He was doing his shoot with one of his sponsors. I asked, 'When will you start preparing?' He said, 'I'm going to get my little book out'," Hussain shared on-air. "He's a very good note-taker; he said he will look back at the notes he made on the previous tour of England and come early and just remind himself of what he did in the last tour when he had some success. And he has repeated it on this tour," Nasser added.
This methodical approach highlights Rahul's dedication and commitment to improving his game. By analyzing his past performances and identifying key areas for improvement, he ensures that he is well-prepared for the challenges posed by English conditions. KL Rahul flew to England days after his IPL campaign ended with Delhi Capitals in the tournament, and also took part in India A's unofficial four-day match against England Lions.
Rahul's success in England isn't just down to his preparation; his batting technique is also well-suited to the conditions. Former England opener Nick Knight lauded Rahul's technique, saying it is "tailor-made for English conditions". Knight highlighted Rahul's solid stride and ability to get his front foot close to the pitch of the ball, which helps him counter lateral movement, a crucial skill in England.
"I just love watching KL Rahul bat. He's one of my favourite players to watch - such elegance, such control. I genuinely believe his style and technique are tailor-made for English conditions," Knight said. "He gets into a solid stride, really gets that front foot close to the pitch of the ball, which helps him cover any lateral movement - something that's critical here in England," he added.
Sanjay Manjrekar also praised Rahul's near-flawless innings and hailed it as "perfection in motion". He commended Rahul's shot selection and ability to find the gap, noting that even the harshest critics would struggle to find a flaw in his performance.
KL Rahul has made some adjustments to his batting approach since being dropped from the T20 World Cup 2024. Ravi Shastri noted a slight adjustment in his front foot positioning, stance, and defense. According to Shastri, Rahul is technically sound and has the game to handle movement.
Since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, Rahul has averaged 43.40 in the opener's spot, which is much better than his career average of 35 in Test cricket. He has scored 651 runs from 8 matches, including 2 hundreds in England.
KL Rahul's ability to play the ball late and close to his body has also contributed to his success in England. This allows him to adjust to any late swing and play the ball under his nose, a textbook batting technique.
Overall, KL Rahul's domination in England is a result of his meticulous preparation, sound technique, and ability to adapt to the conditions. His "little book" of notes, combined with his elegant and controlled batting style, has proven to be a winning formula for the India star.
