New dad Rahul returned to nets to prepare for England series immediately after IPL: Nayar

Dubai: KL Rahul has amassed 532 runs at an impressive average of 53.20 in the ongoing Test series against England, including two centuries and two half-centuries. But according to former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, the groundwork for this success was laid well before the series began. What makes Rahul’s performance even more remarkable is that it came shortly after he embraced fatherhood.

“He’s worked extremely hard,” Nayar told PTI. “Very few people know this, but right after the birth of his child, he played in the IPL and returned immediately to start training for the England tour.”

Nayar revealed that Rahul was back in the nets right after his last IPL match, completely focused on the upcoming Test series. Reflecting on Rahul’s preparation and commitment, he added, “I can’t go into the specifics of the changes I’ve seen in him, because revealing them would reduce their impact. But what I can say is that whatever he’s worked on, it’s clearly paying off.”

Nayar emphasised the role of timing and momentum in a cricketer’s journey. “Sometimes things just need to click. You need that bit of luck too, and I think he’s had that.”

Highlighting Rahul’s dedication, he continued, “He began preparing for this series long before most players would have. He understood how important it was. Every minute after his last IPL game was spent thinking about how to succeed in this series. It's great to see him finally getting the recognition he deserves — especially as someone who’s often taken on the toughest roles and still delivered across the batting order.”

Concluding on a positive note, Nayar added, “All in all, Indian cricket is in good hands. Hopefully, we wrap up the series today (Sunday) and everything ends on a high.”