IND vs SL 1st Test: ‘We ticked most of the boxes,’ says Rahul after India’s victory

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KL Rahul in action during day four of the first Test match between India and Sri Lanka, in Galle, Sri Lanka, on August 18, 2026. | Photo Credit: PTI

Diversity is innate to K.L. Rahul. For someone who can speak Kannada, Tulu, Hindi and English with equal felicity, the switch between cricket’s different formats or the fact that he is a link between the eras of Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill, comes easy.

Trying to downplay his mentor’s role within the Indian unit, the vice-captain said: “It’s everybody’s responsibility to help your fellow team-mates and the dressing room here is always open. There is no ego here, and there is no shame in asking questions.”

Reacting to India’s victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test, Rahul told the media: “We ticked most of the boxes and this will give us confidence going into the next game and we also have a big home series (against Australia) coming up next year. So just understanding batting against spin in spinning conditions is something that we have been working on.”

Enthused by the performance of his Karnataka team-mate Devdutt Padikkal, Rahul said: “The way he batted, the tempo that he batted with and to go on and get a big 100 in the first innings really set up the game for us. The conditions were really hot and challenging. For him to get through that, get a 100, make it big and stitch partnerships, that set up this Test for us. He is someone I have played a lot of cricket with.”

About Manav Suthar, Rahul added: “He is very consistent and hopefully he will keep getting better.” And referencing his own career, Rahul revealed that he has a certain awareness about his game: “I carry calmness into every Test. Having played 60 odd Tests, there is a sense of balance and calmness now when I walk into a Test.” In a relatively young unit, Rahul’s zen-state is a bonus.

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