In a monumental moment for Indian cricket, KL Rahul finally brought an end to his agonizing nine-year wait for a home Test century. On Friday, the stylish right-hander scored a brilliant 100 against the West Indies in the opening Test in Ahmedabad. This second home hundred of his decade-long career is a testament to his dedication and a fresh batting strategy, which he credits for helping him convert promising starts into significant scores on Indian pitches. (Image: KL Rahul, AP Photo)
When quizzed about his surprising lack of home centuries despite his undeniable talent, Rahul admitted, ‘Not sure really.’ However, he quickly elaborated on the significant change he’s embraced. ‘But yeah, somehow I think the only thing that I’ve worked on in the last year or so has been maintaining my batting tempo. Just enjoying the phases that are not as exciting for me in my own head.’”
Rahul further elaborated that a crucial part of this new strategy involved sharpening his running between the wickets, emphasizing the importance of converting singles and twos. He explained, ‘When you come back home, when there’s three spinners playing and the field’s spread out, you really need to get your runs with singles. The boundaries don’t come that easily.’ This realization prompted a significant ‘mental switch’ to relish the grind and accumulate centuries not just through powerful shots, but also by consistently rotating the strike.
Fresh from an impressive century for India A against Australia recently, Rahul confirmed that this recent match practice was instrumental in rediscovering his batting rhythm. ‘Really enjoyed my batting. Playing in different conditions. England was fun. Obviously getting runs there gives you a lot of confidence and coming into this game with some runs behind me also helped. Feeling fresher after a longish break after the series. Yeah, I really enjoyed being back,’ he shared.
The 33-year-old cricketer also offered a glimpse into the emotional significance of his century, revealing that his celebration ‘was for my daughter.’ Throughout the innings, despite battling challenging physical conditions and a relentless West Indies bowling attack, Rahul displayed remarkable composure, patience, and adaptability, anchoring India into a commanding position.
This outstanding performance brings Rahul’s tally to 632 runs in six Tests within the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. Though it marks only his second home century, this achievement strongly indicates a promising new phase of consistency for the Indian opener. He has clearly mastered the art of blending his natural elegance with crucial efficiency in domestic conditions—a combination that will be vital as Team India strives for dominance in their upcoming home season.