ENG vs IND 2025: ‘Worked with F1 coaches to improve my reaction time’ – KL Rahul after Lord’s Ton

KL Rahul has indicated his preference for batting at the top of the lineup. Following his second century of the series, the Indian opener revealed the unique preparation that drove his success. Rahul claimed that he worked with instructors with experience in Formula One to improve his reaction time, a sport that requires split-second reflexes.

So far, KL Rahul has been the most confident batsman in the series.

His ability to leave the ball well and play it late has made a big impact, especially in the tough English conditions. He has been shifted around the batting order in the past, but he now feels confident that he will be able to continue in his favoured opening role in the future.

“Over the last year or two, I’ve been working on a few mental drills. I spent some time with an expert who could assist me improve my reaction time. And there are also mental activities and games you can play to improve your reaction time and other skills,” KL Rahul told NDTV Sports.

“I’ve seen a lot of this in Formula One. I learnt this from one of the guys with whom I worked in Salzburg, Austria. I got the opportunity to visit there and work with some of the coaches. That work with elite Formula One drivers and other adventure sports athletes who rely heavily on their mental abilities was really beneficial. So I worked on that, and I think that’s the only thing that’s changed in the previous year or so,” he said.

The century on Saturday was not as free-flowing as Rahul’s previous one in Leeds, largely due to the slower nature of the Lord’s pitch, but he adapted well and found a way to build his innings accordingly.

“I’ve always enjoyed batting long periods of time even when I was growing up. Even when I played junior cricket, I always enjoyed batting long hours and I could focus for long hours. I think a bit of that and a bit of this has just helped me in the last few years,” Rahul said.

“That’s something that I’ve strived for all my career is to be consistent and perform on a consistent basis. So I’m happy that the performances are coming through in the last few years,” he concluded.