6 days ago
Country first: How KL Rahul paused new dad duties to prepare for England tour
Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani has hailed KL Rahul's unwavering commitment to Indian cricket, highlighting how the senior batter chose country over comfort by flying to England early - just weeks after becoming a father for the first now the senior-most batter in the Indian Test side following the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, welcomed his first child with wife Athiya Shetty in March. Despite the emotional demands of early fatherhood and having just come off a taxing IPL 2025 campaign, Rahul voluntarily made himself available for the India 'A' tour to England, featuring in the second unofficial Test against the England early arrival and proactive approach bore immediate fruit. Opening the batting in the India A match, Rahul struck a composed century, setting the tone for his red-ball form on English soil. He carried that momentum into the first official Test at Leeds, scoring a gritty second-innings hundred.
Rahul began the England tour with a bang in Leeds, scoring 42 and 137 in the first Test. Including his performances in the unofficial (India 'A') and official matches, he now has scores of 116, 51, 42, and 137 across four innings on this on Rahul's commitment, Badani shared a personal anecdote that spoke volumes about the wicketkeeper-batter's priorities."Country first, Hemang bhai. I care for this team," Rahul told him before leaving for England, Badani revealed to The Times of 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. 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 form has been exemplary on the tour so far, with scores of 116 and 51 in the unofficial game, followed by 42 and 137 in the opening Test. His experience and presence have proved invaluable to a relatively young Indian side navigating a transition phase."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 revealed that KL Rahul told him he cared deeply for the Indian team and wanted to travel to England early to prepare better."KL made a statement I remember ahead of the Test series: 'I care for this team, and I want to be here.' He wanted to go to England. I could see the hunger in his eyes and in his words. In the absence of Rohit and Virat, he becomes the senior-most batter - and he has played that role really well," the DC coach said.- EndsMust Watch
