KL Rahul preparing for IND vs SL Tests | PC- X/screengrab
Team India, under Shubman Gill, is set for another tough challenge: a two-match Test series in Sri Lanka. For the Asian Giants, KL Rahul is the only batter in the current squad who has already played a Test match in the Island nation.
The last time India toured Sri Lanka was back in 2018, when Virat Kohli was the captain, with Ravichandran Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, and Cheteshwar Pujara as his main men. However, a lot has changed as these poster boys have retired, at least from the longest format.
KL Rahul bats on dust bowl to prepare for rank-turner in Sri Lanka
As KL Rahul is going to be India's most experienced batter on the tour to Sri Lanka, the opener has started to prepare accordingly. In a viral video, the technically solid batter is seen batting on an absolutely rank-turning pitch, clearly resembling a dust bowl typical of Sri Lanka.
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Against a left-arm spinner, Rahul is seen flaunting his beautiful backfoot play, with the ball spinning square off the wicket. Although the video showcased just two deliveries faced by the batter, KLR is reading the spin well and shifting his weight on the back foot quite swiftly.
Reportedly, the star batter was preparing at a facility in Mumbai, along with his opening partner, Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Watch: KL Rahul practices on a tough spinning pitch ahead of IND vs SL Tests
KL Rahul reinvents himself before IND vs SL Tests
KL Rahul has 68 Test matches under his belt, but he has yet to deliver at his full potential, which is why he has scored just 4153 runs at an average of 36.42, slamming 12 centuries in the longest format.
In Sri Lanka, the stylish batter has played five matches, racking up 268 at 33.50, including a century and two fifties.
That said, the 34-year-old, who played all his cricket under someone else’s shadow, has reinvented himself in the last two years. Since 2025, Rahul has played 20 Test matches, hitting nearly 2000 runs, averaging 48.1 and featuring four centuries and three half-centuries.
Team India plans to conquer Sri Lanka
India landed in Colombo on Tuesday afternoon without Sai Sudharsan, who will travel later as he is currently in Bengaluru.
The Shubman Gill-led and KL Rahul-framed side will play a three-day warm-up fixture at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground from August 7 to 9. That said, the first Test at Galle is scheduled for August 15, while the second at Colombo will begin on August 23.
Currently, India's position on the WTC points table is not too good, as they are sitting in fifth position, even below Bangladesh. However, they have three more series left in this cycle to turn their fortunes.
Also Read: Why The India Vs Sri Lanka Tour Could Define KL Rahul's Test Career
