KL Rahul’s coach lauds his mental toughness and composure after century in India A vs England Lions 2nd unofficial Test

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A crisp Northampton morning brought with it the sound of reassurance for India’s Test think-tank. KL Rahul, returning to first-class cricket after six months away from the red-ball arena, smashed a tremendous century to help India A recover from the early wobbles. Watching from Bengaluru, childhood mentor Samuel Jayaraj heaped praises on Rahul and his temprament which was the key behind his crucial knock in the English conditions.

Inserted on a lively County Ground pitch, India A slumped to 39/2 inside the first hour as Chris Woakes praised out Yashasvi Jaiswal and skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran. Rahul, promoted to open, responded with a master-class in tempo control—leaving on length, punishing anything over-pitched and sharing a 121-run stand with wicket-keeper Dhruv Jurel (52). The pair shepherded the visitors from peril to parity before medium-pacer George Hill removed both in quick succession just after tea. Rahul unfurled a polished 116 to anchor India A’s 348 against the England Lions and all but pencil his name into the senior XI for the five-match Test series that starts at Headingley on 20 June.

Jayaraj expressed that Rahul’s century didn’t come as a surprise to him, as the star Karnataka batter has always been a well-prepared and disciplined cricketer. Highlighting Rahul’s ability to follow instructions and rotate strike smartly, Jayaraj pointed to his specific role during the Champions Trophy, which he executed with precision. Despite not being picked for the T20 World Cup even after a strong ODI World Cup performance, Rahul remained calm and focused—traits he developed from an early age. Jayaraj emphasized that Rahul’s mental toughness, technical maturity, and over a decade of experience at the top level have shaped him into a composed and evolved player, with his calmness being his most defining quality today.

“If you ask me, as a coach, this isn’t surprising. He was always ready. He was also a wicketkeeper. He would smartly rotate strike, taking singles on the fourth, fifth, or sixth ball, then face the next over. He follows instructions really well. If you noticed in the Champions Trophy, his role was very specific—and he executed it perfectly,” Jayaraj told The Times of India.

“In fact, despite having a very good ODI World Cup, he wasn’t picked for the T20 World Cup. He didn’t crib or get frustrated. Because he has seen these things as a kid. That’s why he’s so strong today both mentally and technically. And that’s his biggest strength. He’s matured a lot. He’s been playing cricket at a high level for 10 years now. That experience shows. If you watch him now, he’s a completely different player — much calmer, composed, and in control. For me, that calmness is what stands out the most,” he added.

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India A posted a total of 348 in their first innings of the second unofficial Test against England Lions, with Rahul’s century laying the foundation. The innings wrapped up quickly on the second morning in Northampton, thanks to Josh Tongue‘s impactful spell. He dismissed overnight batters Tanush Kotian and Anshul Kamboj in successive overs with sharp movement and clever lengths, before effecting a direct-hit run-out to send back Tushar Deshpande and bring the innings to a close. Despite late resistance from the lower order, including Deshpande and Khaleel Ahmed, India A fell just short of the 350-mark. Besides Rahul’s dominant 116, notable contributions came from Jurel (52), Karun Nair (40), and Nitish Reddy (34), helping the visitors post a respectable total.

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