Despite a career spanning over a decade, Indian batsman KL Rahul has only managed two Test centuries on home soil, a statistic he admitted on Friday he`s actively working to improve. Rahul, who recently enjoyed a successful tour of England, marked his 11th Test hundred during the second day of the inaugural Test against West Indies. This was his first home century since his previous one, also against the West Indies, in Chennai back in 2016.
When questioned at the end of play about his relatively low tally of home centuries for a player of his talent, Rahul responded, “I`m not entirely sure why.” He then elaborated, “However, over the past year or so, my primary focus has been on maintaining my batting rhythm and learning to appreciate the less exhilarating moments of an innings.”
Rahul explained that he has dedicated efforts to improve his scoring through singles and twos in home matches. He noted that local conditions frequently require this approach, a skill he previously struggled with, which impacted his ability to convert starts into big scores.
He contrasted this with playing overseas: “When playing abroad in seaming, swinging conditions with extra bounce, the challenges are different. But back home, with three spinners and spread out fields, scoring primarily through singles becomes crucial as boundaries are harder to come by.” He continued, “This led me to make a mental adjustment: to find enjoyment in the `grinding` aspect of the game, accumulating centuries through singles and doubles. This shift in mindset, cultivated over the past year, is, I believe, the key difference and something I previously didn`t execute well at home.”
While Rahul`s century, alongside those from Dhruv Jurel and Ravindra Jadeja, placed India in a commanding position, he felt the challenging conditions were a greater obstacle than the West Indies bowlers themselves.
Fresh off a significant century for India A against Australia, Rahul indicated that this performance was instrumental in his preparation for the brief two-Test series against West Indies, following his break after the England tour.
Reflecting on his return, Rahul stated, “I genuinely enjoyed my batting and experiencing different conditions. My time in England was enjoyable, and scoring runs there boosted my confidence, which carried into this match. The break after the series left me feeling refreshed, and I truly relished being back.” When asked about nerves, he replied, “Not really, because I had just played a game last week for India A. I was a bit nervous then, having been off the field for 5-6 weeks. Getting back into rhythm, scoring runs, spending time in the field, and enduring 4-5 consecutive days of play presents a physical challenge. The conditions here have been extremely demanding physically, though the game I played last week was even tougher. Despite the physical strain, it`s great to be out in the middle, and that prior match helped me regain my stamina.”
Rahul`s innings concluded exactly at 100 runs, as he was dismissed shortly after the lunch interval. He revealed that his celebration upon reaching the milestone was a tribute to his daughter. Currently, Rahul has accumulated 632 runs in six Tests during the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle.
