Hemang Badani compares KL Rahul with Murali Vijay, hails opener for technique in English conditions

Former Indian batter Hemang Badani lauded KL Rahul for playing with a solid technique in the second innings of the opening Test against England at Leeds, Headingley on Monday. After scoring 42 runs in the first innings, Rahul scored a patient knock of 137 runs in the second innings as he batted at his absolute best.

Badani, who recently coached Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025, compared Rahul’s leaves with former Indian opener Murali Vijay. Rahul played with a solid technique and scored 18 fours in his fine knock. The flamboyant batter added 195 runs with vice-captain Rishabh Pant.

“I would like to compare him with Murali Vijay. Murali Vijay also had the same ability. He used to leave the ball well. He generally didn’t used to flirt with deliveries outside the off-stump. I was wondering whether KL Rahul or Murali Vijay was batting. Both are very similar style of players, very elegant players,” Hemang Badani said on Sony Sports.

Badani noted that Rahul has made the technical adjustments in his batting after playing in the IPL.

“There is one more thing. The Indian players have come after playing in the IPL recently. Generally, you try to remain on the leg side of the ball in the shorter formats, trying to make room to hit fours by freeing your hands. However, he goes back and across, and looks to play after covering his stumps,” Badani observed.

The former left-hander highlighted that Rahul didn’t play a single horizontal bat shot in the first two hours of his innings.

“He didn’t play even a single horizontal bat shot in the first two hours, neither a cut nor a pull. He was looking to play straight. He knew that the ball was new, and he had to somehow play out the new ball. Once he played out the new ball, it was very easy for him to score a century,” he said.

Rahul had scored 42 runs in the first innings but failed to convert his start, which would have been a disappointment for him.

“He had missed out in the first innings. I know him a little. I know he would have been thinking in his room that he missed out. A batter cannot get out on 40 after getting set. As a No. 6 or No. 7 batter, if you get out after scoring 40, it’s okay, because that’s your role, but 40 runs is very less for an opener. You cannot get out on 40 once you reach there,” Badani observed.

Rahul would look to carry the good show in the rest of the series.