Not Shubman Gill or Yashasvi Jaiswal!! Cheteshwar Pujara picks India's best Test batsman
At the end of Day 3 of the IND vs ENG Leeds Test 2025, India was ahead by 96 runs with KL Rahul and Shubman Gill taking guard of the Indian innings. KL Rahul so far has remained the pick of batters in the second Indian innings with 47 runs.
An Indian former Test cricketer turned commentator, Cheteshwar Pujara, identified how KL Rahul should convert his starts to big scores to be recognized as one of the finest talents of Indian red-ball cricket.
KL Rahul missed out on a big score in the 1st innings of Leeds Test
KL Rahul missed out on a half-century in the first innings and has neared another in the second innings with 47* on Day 3. Though Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant were the centurions from the first innings, Pujara recognizes KL Rahul as the best Indian test batter in this team.
Cheteshwar Pujara's comments came on the short yet subtle innings played by opener KL Rahul in the first innings. Cheteshwar Pujara mentioned how Rahul handled the diversions with the new ball very well, but could not keep up with his patience. Rahul was dismissed on Day 1 after he knicked a baffling delivery from Brydon Carse and was caught by Joe Root at first slip.
"Technically, he's one of the most correct batsmen in the Indian Test team, and the way he times the ball, the way his footwork is, the way he judges the length, he looks like he's a complete Test player. But at the same time, he has to score big runs, and he's capable enough, but there are times where he gets off to a good start and then he gets out," Cheteshwar Pujara remarked on KL Rahul through a broadcast.
Citing his excellence, Cheteshwar Pujara has named KL Rahul as one of the most technically sound batters in the Indian side. He has highlighted that Rahul looks a complete test batter and can survive through the tough conditions of play.
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Cheteshwar Pujara's picked best test batter, KL Rahul's test record playing in SENA countries
KL Rahul made his Test debut back in 2014, and since then, the opening batter has been a star in the longest format of the game. KL Rahul is largely known for his versatility, as he has batted through several positions in the Indian batting order.
Having played 59 matches in his career so far, Rahul has 3346 runs with an average of 34.44. He is one of the few batters in the current Indian side to have had test hundreds in three of the four nations among SENA countries.
Though KL Rahul has never played a test on Kiwi soil, he has hundreds in England, South Africa, and Australia among the SENA countries.
Rahul's Record in South Africa
KL Rahul is one of India's most standout batters to have played on the Proteas' soil. Though India has never had the best of records playing tests in South Africa, Rahul has scored 369 runs in 7 matches with two hundreds to his name.
KL Rahul's Record in Australia:
He also holds a decent record in the island nation of Australia, as the batter accumulated 463 runs across 19 innings in the red-ball format. With one hundred and two fifties to his name, KL Rahul was a crucial part of the Indian side in the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy as well.
KL Rahul's Record in England:
England has been one of the opposition in test cricket against whom KL Rahul has relished batting. With 10 matches and 703 runs, KL Rahul has two top knocks against the Englishmen, scoring stunning hundreds. He remains a pillar of the Indian batting side in the ongoing India vs England Test series, as suggested by Cheteshwar Pujara.
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Tagged:
Yashasvi Jaiswal Shubman Gill Cheteshwar Pujara KL Rahul India National Cricket Team England National Cricket Team India vs England England vs India ICC World Test Championship
