KL Rahul ranks this series as ‘the top’ for Indian cricket among India’s best achievements in Test cricket recently.
KL Rahul: This series ‘will rank right at the top’ for India.
“For us, as a team that wasn’t given a chance in this series, for us to fight back and to fight in every game and to get a result which is 2-2 might seem like a draw, but for us and for Indian Test cricket going in the future, I think this will rank right at the top,” Rahul told the host broadcaster right after India won the fifth Test at The Oval by six runs on the final morning. “And this is where the change begins and the Indian Test team will go on to create many things and win many more series outside of India.”
“I’ve played cricket for a while. I have won the Champions Trophy. I’ve seen India lifting the World Cup. I mean, nothing compares with lifting the World Cup, but so many doubts, so many questions from everybody about whether Test cricket would stay or not… I think both the teams with the way we’ve played in this series, I think we’ve answered that question.”
The tie seemed like a “satisfying” outcome, Rahul continued, even if India would have loved to have won the series. With all five matches continuing into the fifth day and both India and England having their moments, the series has been a taxing one.
“Feeling is hard to describe,” he said. “Been here, toiled for 25 days. It took every inch out of us. Everything that we had, physically, mentally, emotionally, this Test series has taken everything away from all of us. And I think, at the end of 25 days, we’re standing here 2-2, absolutely proud of ourselves.
“So satisfying to be here and draw the series. Would have loved to win this series. But for a young team to come here and for a lot of us to step up and show the world that we can compete, we can win games outside of India, yeah, it’s truly a testament to what this team is and what Indian cricket means.”
Rahul added that it seemed “a bit weird” to be without players like R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli, who have all departed from Test cricket in recent months. The opener, who is on his third tour to England, was given more responsibility as a result, and he responded by scoring 532 runs in ten innings at 53.20, the third-highest total in the series.
“Yes, it hit me when I joined the team,” Rahul said on the absence of the three seniors. “I was here about two weeks earlier playing for India A and it didn’t hit me back then, but once I joined the team and I looked around and I didn’t have a Rohit, a Virat, an Ashwin.
“But yeah, that’s when it hit me that everyone else is looking at me, coming to me to ask about English conditions, what they need to do, how they need to prepare. That’s when it hit me that, ‘okay, I’ve stepped into a different role now and it’s time for me to help the younger guys, use all the experience I’ve had of playing Test cricket and international cricket over the years and really put my hand up and stand up for this team’.
“This moment almost feels like this is a young team that’s going to stay there for a long time.”