“KL RAHUL WAS CLINICAL IN HIS APPROACH AND LOOKED IN CONTROL”: ANIL KUMBLE
KL RAHUL WAS CLINICAL IN HIS APPROACH AND LOOKED IN CONTROL
POSTED BY: ANGHA SAKPAL JULY 13, 2025
Day 2 of the third Test at Lord’s ended on a balanced note, with India recovering from early setbacks to reach 145-3 at stumps. JioHotstar experts on ‘Match Centre Live’ weighed in on the day’s highlights, assessing the performances and key moments that shaped the day.
Speaking on ‘Match Centre Live’ after the conclusion of Day 2 of the third Test, JioHotstar expert Anil Kumble commented on whether India or England would be the happier side: “I think it will be even. I know India will probably feel that they gave about 50 runs extra to England. But having said that, with the early dismissal of Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, India will be comfortable at 145 for 3. And the best part is Rishabh Pant getting the opportunity to bat at some point. Slightly earlier in the day, there was a bit of a concern about Pant — whether he’d be able to bat. But he was pretty comfortable other than that one instance where he got hit off the toe-end, and that hurt his hand. Otherwise, he looked quite at ease. I thought KL Rahul and Pant ensured that India ended the day on a positive note, even though Pant came in a bit later.”
Anil Kumble lauded Rahul’s composed knock in testing conditions: “It was fantastic. A typical KL Rahul innings where he had to grind it out. It was a fiery spell from Jofra Archer — especially that first spell where he clocked over 150 km/h, with steep bounce and a bit of swing early on. KL countered all of that brilliantly. He was clinical in his approach and looked in control. It was a very disciplined and mature knock, and I’m sure he’ll be satisfied with how he played.”
JioHotstar expert Jonathan Trott echoed similar sentiments on Rahul’s tactical approach: “I don’t think you can go out there and dictate terms to the bowlers on this pitch. You have to be watchful — it’s very much a new-ball wicket. KL was excellent in nullifying that early threat and played very straight. Just like Shubman Gill did in the second Test — using a straight bat, being patient when the ball’s on the stumps, and capitalising on the bad balls. That’s going to be key tomorrow — to keep pressure on the English side.”
Anil Kumble broke down the technical setup behind Gill’s wicket: “I think it was a good ball — a well-planned set-up. If you look at the previous over from Chris Woakes, he was angling the ball in toward Shubman Gill. Most of those deliveries came in, with the occasional one holding its line. Then in the first ball of the next over, Woakes went wider from the crease. As a batter, when you’ve just faced an over angled in, you naturally play for that line. But this one held its line — and with the Lord’s slope, that movement gets exaggerated. It was the perfect length and angle. And a great catch by wicketkeeper Jamie Smith — keeping up to the stumps is never easy, whether it’s pace or spin, but he pulled it off.”
Kumble reflected on Nair’s elegant knock and unfortunate dismissal: “He’s had a solid series overall, except for that one innings. In his comeback match, he’s consistently got starts — 20s, 30s — and today he got into the 40s. He survived Archer’s harsh early spell and began looking comfortable. Some of his cover drives were beautiful to watch. But it was one of those dismissals — he edged a good delivery, and Joe Root took a stunning low catch. That’s not easy, especially with the slope at Lord’s. And Jofra Archer — no surprise he’s the best catcher in this match.”
Catch Day 3 of the third Test of India’s tour of England, today at 3:30 PM, live on JioHotstar
