IND A vs ENG Lions 2nd Unofficial Test: KL Rahul’s Return to Red-Ball Cricket Starts Strong With Century in Northampton

KL Rahul’s call to play in the India A vs England Lions series has really worked out well for him. Opening the innings in the second unofficial Test, he played a fluent knock and brought up a well-deserved century, putting India A in a strong position in Northampton. After his IPL 2025 campaign ended early, Rahul made the most of his time by heading to England and he’s clearly making it count against a quality Lions bowling attack.

KL Rahul reminded everyone why he’s one of India’s most seasoned batters with a classy century in the second India A vs England Lions match in Northampton. The 33-year-old stepped up just when the team needed him, easing a few nerves ahead of the big India vs England Test series. With both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Abhimanyu Easwaran falling early, Rahul held things together at the top finding solid support from his longtime Karnataka teammate, Karun Nair. It was a calm, composed knock that showed his experience and hunger to deliver.

Rahul started his innings with caution, playing each ball on merit and showing plenty of patience. With Chris Woakes bowling well, the Indian opener looked solid in defense and careful with his shot selection. By Lunch, he had made just 26 off 58 balls, quietly soaking up pressure without taking many risks.

🚨 19th FIRST CLASS HUNDRED MOMENT OF KL RAHUL 🚨

- The Backbone of Indian Team. pic.twitter.com/ybEsKGJ5qs

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 6, 2025

Steady Start, Explosive Finish: Rahul Shows His Class Ahead of England Series

After the break, though, Rahul opened up a bit more, taking advantage of anything loose. He did lose Karun Nair soon after Lunch, but stayed focused and built an important stand with vice-captain Dhruv Jurel. He brought up his half-century in 102 balls, a clear sign of the grit and discipline he brought to the crease. Just before Tea, he shifted gears smoothly hitting 42 runs off his next 29 balls and even launching Farhan Ahmed for a six. Rahul walked into the Tea break unbeaten on 93 showing exactly why experience matters in tough situations.

With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma stepping away from Test cricket, KL Rahul is now the most experienced batter in the Indian squad. He’s likely to open the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal, and there’s no hiding the fact that he’s got some big shoes to fill as India kicks off a new World Test Championship cycle. Rahul was one of India’s top performers on the last tour of England, even scoring a brilliant century at Lord’s. Now, at 33, he’ll be looking to lead by example once again and set the tone for the series just like he did back in 2021.

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