KL Rahul wants India to build on confidence after passing Sri Lanka spin test

KL Rahul said India's 165-run win over Sri Lanka reflected the progress they have made against spin, with the victory boosting the team's confidence ahead of the Colombo Test and next year's home series against Australia.SL vs IND: KL Rahul pleased as India pass spin test, wants team to build on Sri Lanka win (PTI Photo)India vice-captain KL Rahul was happy with the way the team handled the challenge of spin in the first Test against Sri Lanka, saying the 165-run win has given the side confidence ahead of the second Test and tougher assignments at home.India took a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series after controlling the contest in Galle. The second Test will be played in Colombo from August 23."I wouldn't say sigh of relief, just happy because every Test match victory is special. Coming back to Sri Lanka after a long time, so, lot of the guys haven't been here and so it's a great start to the tour. I think we ticked most of the boxes that we spoke about before the Test," Rahul said after the match.India had plenty to prove against spin after their recent struggles against New Zealand and South Africa at home. This time, they dealt with Sri Lanka's spinners far better and remained in control for most of the Test. SL vs IND, 1st Test Day 5: Highlights | ReportRahul said the result was particularly encouraging because of the work the team had put into improving their batting against spin. "I think this victory will obviously give a sense of happiness and also give us the confidence going into the next game (at Colombo) and also we have a big home series coming up in India next year (vs Australia)."So just understanding batting against spin and playing in spinning conditions is something that we've all been working on. So from that point of view, it gives us a lot of happiness," he said.Rahul had worked specifically on his game against spin before traveling to Sri Lanka, spending time at a private facility in Mumbai.For him, preparation starts with understanding the conditions and studying how matches have played out in similar situations."I think even before the series, how well prepared you are gives you the best chance to do well in any condition, whether it's in India or outside."Watching some of the games that have been played in Sri Lanka and what phase of the game as a batter do you get runs, what phase of the game do you have to soak in the pressure, when do you have to attack, when do you have to be cautious," he said.Rahul believes that preparation gives him clarity once a Test begins."I've always liked doing that and taking those walks is a big part of my preparation. Yes, not always will you get success, but I think that's the bare minimum someone playing at this level can do before coming for a Test series," he added.The 34-year-old said the work he puts in before a series allows him to stay calm and make better decisions in the middle."I think most of the work is how I've prepared before coming into a Test series and that's something in the last few years I think I've paid a lot of attention to. Whether it's mental make-up or whether it's doing the physical hours and whether it's batting, preparing in a way where the conditions will be suitable to where I'm going."So, I've done that and worked really hard with my coaches back home and that has given me clarity in the way I want to play, in the way I want to build in innings and how I want to counter certain type of bowlers, how I want to play in seaming conditions or spinning conditions or a good wicket. I carry that calmness," Rahul said.Rahul was also pleased with the performance of Karnataka team-mate Devdutt Padikkal, whose maiden Test century played a major role in India's first-innings total."I think that innings was, I think for me, the defining part of this Test match. The tempo that he batted with and to go on and get a big 100 in the first innings really set up the game for us. The conditions were really hot and it was challenging physically as well," he said.Rahul said he was particularly happy to see Padikkal score his first Test hundred after watching him develop through the Karnataka system."Someone who I've played a lot of cricket with and seen him grow up and come from Bangalore and play for Karnataka. I was really happy to be there and to see and to witness his first 100. Hopefully, he carries this confidence into the next game and into his best career as well," he added.- EndsPublished By: Saurabh KumarPublished On: Aug 19, 2026 17:06 IST