F1 specialist helped KL Rahul to be sharp and proactive

India’s KL Rahul credited mental training techniques inspired by Formula 1 for his performance in the third Test at Lord’s. He also reflected on a costly run-out involving Rishabh Pant and the momentum shift that followed in India’s innings.

HYDERABAD: India opener KL Rahul, who cracked a century against England in the on-going third Test match on the third day at Lord’s, said he travelled to Salzburg in Austria, the base of the Red Bull team in F1, to work with the specialist, who has also helped elite F1 drivers in being sharp and proactive.

Reflecting on the run-out of his partner Rishabh Pant, Rahul informed the media at the end of the day’s play that he had told Pant of his plan to get to the century before the break, a couple of overs before lunch.

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“Not ideal. There was a conversation a couple of overs before that: I told Pant that I would get my hundred, if possible, before lunch. And with Bashir bowling that last over before lunch, I thought there was a good chance for me to get it, but, yeah, unfortunately, I hit straight to the fielder,” he explained.

“It was a ball that I could have hit for a boundary. Then he just wanted me to rotate strike and see if he could put me back on strike. But, yes, it shouldn’t have happened: a run out at that stage really changed the momentum,” said Rahul.

“It was disappointing for both of us. Obviously, nobody wants to throw their wicket like that. Of course, there’s a little bit of disappointment because till just before tea time, we were in a really good position,” he said.

“Obviously, Rishabh and I got that long partnership, and then we both got out [in quick succession] – he got out just before lunch and I got out just after lunch. That wasn’t ideal, so you had set batters in the top five who had got off to starts, so ideally you want one of them or both to go on and get a big score, and that’s how you get ahead in a Test match,” Rahul explained.

The India opener said that for the last two-odd years, he had also been working with a specialist who has helped him with “improving reaction times” by engaging in mental drills and games that top athletes involved in F1 and adventure sports practice.

Rahul said he travelled to Salzburg in Austria, the base of the Red Bull team in F1, to work with the specialist, who has also helped elite F1 drivers in being sharp and proactive.