India were on a firm footing at Lord’s, scoring 103 runs in just 22.3 overs until Rishabh Pant’s self-destructive run out for 74. However, KL Rahul’s desperation to reach his century before lunch changed the momentum of the innings. After admitting he told Pant to push a single to sweeper cover on the first ball after lunch, but instead Pant was run out by Ben Stokes’ brilliant pick-and-direct hit.
Rahul said the conversation with Pant had changed the dynamics of their partnership, which had set up a promising start for India. However, Patel’s reckless decision cost him and Rahul dearly as they were both dismissed in quick succession, handing England control back into their hands.
Despite this setback, Rahul remains optimistic about his team’s chances, citing his form in previous matches, including his 55 runs in Birmingham and his Player-of-the-Match performance at Lord’s last year. He also revealed that he has been working on his mental side of the game with a specialist, who has helped him improve his reaction times through mental drills and games.
The series is currently level 1-1, but Rahul believes India can regain control if they convert their starts into bigger scores. “We’ve wasted opportunities to dominate in the last three matches by committing untimely errors,” he said.
Source: https://www.espn.com/cricket/story/_/id/45725443/eng-vs-ind-kl-rahul-says-rush-century-led-pant-run-out