KL Rahul Put 'Country Over Child' As He Prepared For India Vs England Test Series

KL Rahul has never shied away from giving his 100 per cent for Team India. Whatever the team has asked from him, he has delivered on it even if that has meant it has taken the batter a long time to get clearly defined roles in the side. Ahead of the tour to England, the star batter once again showed his commitment to the Indian side as he chose to prepare for the Test series over spending time with his newly-born child.

Rahul and his wife Athiya Shetty were blessed with a baby girl in March 2025, just as the Indian Premier League began. Rahul missed a game and was back in the Delhi Capitals side from the second match onwards.

Talking to Hemang Badani, his coach at the Capitals, Rahul clearly said that for him country comes first.

"I really liked the fact that he was someone who said, ‘I want to go to England early. I want to play the side game.’ Forget about the hundred he got — that came later. The intent — that’s what matters. The intent to be there early, to be prepared, to be with the side," Badani told TimesofIndia.com. "Let’s not forget, he’s a young father, and I don’t think his child is travelling with him initially. So for him to say, ‘Country over my child’ — that’s a huge call. He could’ve easily said, ‘I'm not playing the side game anyway, I’ll just go straight to the Test match.’ But he didn’t," he added.

Rahul went to England early and scored a solid century in the practice game. In the first Test also, the opener looked at his best. He played the ball late and scored a smooth 42 in the first innings before racking up a ton in the second innings. Despite Rahul's efforts, India lost the first Test by five wickets.