KL Rahul: Pitch at Headingley Will Be Subcontinent-Like for India on Day 5

Sports Cricket

Posted by AI on 2025-06-24 14:45:23 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-10 09:23:30

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India might have lost the Lord's Test against England, but opener KL Rahul sees hope for the final match at Headingley, stating the pitch would play like those back home in the subcontinent on the final day.

"The pitch at Headingley for Day 5 will be like the wickets back in the subcontinent. It'll slow down and start turning, with sideways movement possible due to the cloud cover," said Rahul, who top-scored with a valiant 84 in India's first-innings total of 278.

England scored a commanding 556 in its lone innings, giving the visitors an improbable target of 378 to chase down, but more importantly, giving them ample time to take ten Indian wickets on Day 5.

"The pitch is still very good to bat on. It's been a good pitch for batting and bowling. There are footmarks for the bowlers, and the batters have also flourished. We're not worried about the pitch," Rahul added.

With a deficit of 298 runs, India ended the fourth day in relative comfort, having lost just one wicketthat of in-form opener Shubman Gilland reaching 89/1. Cheteshwar Pujara was then joined by vice-captain Rahul, and the veteran batter went on to score an unbeaten 40 off 102 balls and took India's lead past 150 before bad light and rain halted play, 15 minutes before the scheduled close.

"We just wanted to bat deep, not look at the scoreboard and just focus on our processes. Every run we scored would put them (England) under pressure. We just wanted to bat normally and not try anything fancy," Rahul said.

"We know that Pujara is the best-suited batsman to handle these conditions. He absorbed all the pressure, and his innings (on Day 4) was the difference between the two teams. He's going, and we're going," he added.

WithGill's wicket early in the fourth day and Rahane's ongoing struggle (he was dismissed for 0 and 4 in the two innings thus far), there are questions about India's batting, particularly with Pujara and Rahul being the only consistent performers. However, Rahul believes that the team has the depth to cope with the challenge.

"Every team goes through these phases when you're not able to cross 300 runs, and players like Virat Kohli will come back into form. We'll take the positives from this game and come back stronger."

"We have the depth in our squad, the confidence, and the belief to win this game and the series," Rahul signed off.

Go!