Star India batter KL Rahul had a great start to the England Test series. He scored 42 runs in his first innings and 137 in the second innings as well, albeit in a losing cause, as India lost in the first Test in Leeds. Rahul has been opening the batting for India after Rohit Sharma announced his Test retirement in May this year. Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani has opined on Rahul’s commitment. He said that Rahul preferred the country over his newborn.

“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. 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 call,” Hemang Badani told Times of India. “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.”

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However, KL Rahul was part of the Intra-Squad match that took place between India and India A. This was the only match simulation for the Indian team before the games vs England.

“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,” again said Badani.

“He’s played in England before. And in terms of maturity and technique, you can clearly see he’s more focused now. He knows he has to fill the vacuum left behind. The rest of the squad – apart from Karun – are mostly under 30. So he has to guide players like Sai Sudharsan, Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Nitish Kumar Reddy – all of whom are new to this level,” Hemang Badani concluded.