Rahul praised for commitment after reaching England early despite recently becoming a father: 'He could've easily said...'

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KL Rahul, who had welcomed a daughter with wife Athiya on 24 March, had featured in the second unofficial Test between India A and England Lions that took place just two weeks after Delhi Capitals' final game of the 2025 Indian Premier League. read more
KL Rahul had scored a superb 137 in the second innings of the first Test between India and England at Headingley, though the knock ultimately went in vain. AP
Former India cricketer Hemang Badani heaped praise on senior batter KL Rahul for his commitment, especially for showing up in the tour of England earlier than many of his teammates and playing a practice game despite recently becoming a father .
Rahul, who is the senior-most member of the Test team following Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's retirements from the format last month, had landed in England before a majority of the Shubman Gill-led squad after playing his maiden season with Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League.
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And just two weeks after DC, who had failed to reach the playoffs, played their final game of the season, Rahul featured in India A's second unofficial Test against England Lions in Northampton, where the wicketkeeper-batter scored a fluent 116 followed by 51.
Rahul and wife Athiya Shetty had welcomed a baby daughter on 24 March. The star cricketer's paternity leave, however, was limited to DC's first game of the season, against Lucknow Super Giants in Visakhapatnam which took place on the same day he became a father.
Rahul rejoined the Capitals in time for their second game, against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the same venue less than a week later, and would remain caught up with the gruelling tournament for the next two months.
Badani salutes Rahul's intent
'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.' 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,' Delhi Capitals coach Badani told The Times of India.
'Let's not forget, he's a young father, and I don't think his child is traveling with him initially. So for him to say, 'Country over my child' — that's a huge call.
'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,' he added.
The batting practice that he got in the tour game came in handy in the series opener against England at Headingley, where Rahul scored a flamboyant 137 in the second innings in addition to 42 in the first.
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The 33-year-old stood tall at a time when opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Shubman Gill, centurions in the first innings, were dismissed cheaply and his presence also helped designated wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant recover from a shaky start and go on to score a second consecutive century.