KL Rahul’s century at Leeds was more than just that; it was another reminder of his immense value in overseas Test matches.
As the opener raised his bat at Headingley for his first Test hundred since December 2023, a quiet sigh of relief swept through many India fans. None, however, was deeper than the one visible on Rahul’s own face. At 33, the senior-most member of a young Indian side, Rahul, has now completed over a decade in international cricket. With 59 Tests under his belt and a career average of 34.70, the numbers don't scream dominance. And yet, here he is, still part of the conversation, a batter whose career has often been defined by unfulfilled potential, but who, in Leeds, found clarity and control when it mattered most.
This Test match offered a telling snapshot of Rahul’s career arc: glimpses of brilliance undercut by moments that leave you asking what could have been. In the first innings, Rahul had done the hard work: negotiated the new ball in tough batting conditions, only to fall for 42. It was a familiar frustration: getting in, only to give it away.
But he turned it around in the second innings with a composed, compact display on a surface that had begun to show its wear. Rahul, though, stayed calm. He was assured in technique and judgement. When the ball kicked up from a good length, he made sure his bottom hand stayed off the bat, reducing the chances of the glove ballooning a catch.
Even when he was struck hard, including off a delivery that leapt from outside off and thudded into his shoulder, he didn’t flinch. He got into position early, didn’t pre-empt movement, and let the ball do its bit. Even when one rose unexpectedly and hit the glove, the bat stayed down.
It was an innings built on calculation. The cracks meant the bounce was uneven, and with a fragile lower middle order, Rahul adapted to the situation. He left the drive alone, a shot England tried repeatedly for him to play, relying instead on playing late and straight. There was a life, a dropped chance by Harry Brook, but otherwise, Rahul was in control. He read the pitch, understood what was needed, and adjusted his game accordingly.
It wasn't unfamiliar territory for Rahul. His ability to step up in overseas conditions has been evident since the early days of his career. His first Test hundred came in just his second match - a composed 110 at the SCG in 2015. In 2018, he dragged India close in an improbable fourth-innings chase of 464 at The Oval, making a counter-attacking 149. But it was the 129 at Lord’s in 2021 that proved to be the turning point. In what would eventually be remembered as the defining series of Rahul’s second wind in Test cricket, as he batted with assurance in bowler-friendly conditions, earning the Player of the Match award and re-establishing himself as a batter India could turn to in adverse conditions.
And at Centurion, arguably his finest knock, Rahul was tested throughout on a surface that had sharp seam movement, uneven bounce, and unpredictable carry. He began with back-foot defence before gradually expanding his range, even lofting a six when the moment allowed. He had not just survived but assessed, adapted, and then asserted.
That deeper understanding of overseas conditions is what will be Rahul’s legacy. Among Indian batters, only Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Virat Kohli have made 10 or more hundreds in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia), four countries notorious for testing your technique, especially if you are from Asia. The list is shorter still for openers: only 16 Indian openers have a Test hundred in SENA, and six of those have just one. Rahul also has nine fifty-plus scores, the joint second-highest by openers from the country, alongside Virender Sehwag and Murali Vijay. While the duo are in conversation as India's best openers away, Rahul has played more impactful knocks across conditions.
He also has five Test centuries in SENA, though he is yet to play a Test in New Zealand. Among Indian openers, only Sunil Gavaskar (8) has more. In England, his tally of three Test hundreds as an opener is unmatched by any other Indian.
A closer look at the data reveals even more. Rahul, who has nine Test hundreds overall, including one each in India and Sri Lanka, is just the third opener from the subcontinent to score more than five Test hundreds outside Asia, joining Gavaskar (15) and Marvan Atapattu (7). He is also the only opener this century with three Test tons in England, apart from Graeme Smith, who has five. Since 2000, Rahul has batted 200 or more balls in an innings in England four times, the most by any Indian, and only behind Smith among overseas openers.
His partnerships, too, have been telling. Rahul has featured in eight opening stands lasting 150 balls or more in SENA, the most by any Indian opener. He nearly added a ninth at Leeds alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, missing out by a single delivery in the first innings.
While Rahul’s SENA average of 35.39 doesn’t place him in the statistical elite, his performances under pressure, often on challenging surfaces, with the team in trouble, continue to elevate him. His career has oscillated between highs built on grit and lows shadowed by inconsistency, but for now, at least, his case for selection in India’s all-time SENA Test XI remains strong, where he could open alongside the great Gavaskar, who made the most runs (2,464), hit the most fifty-plus scores (19), and had the second-highest batting average among Indian openers with at least 500 runs.
But the future may belong elsewhere. Jaiswal, his current opening partner, has made a dazzling start to his career, with hundreds in his first Tests in the West Indies, Australia, and England. He already averages 52.86 in the format, and is only 97 runs away from reaching 2,000 Test runs, which would make him one of the fastest to that milestone.
In time, Jaiswal may well rewrite the script. But at Headingley, in the face of difficulty, Rahul reminded everyone why he continues to matter.
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