Aug 2013: Vice-captain India Under 23 for Asian Cricket Council Emerging Teams Cup in Singapore. Scores an unbeaten 93 at the Kallang ground in Singapore to pull off a nine-wicket win against Pakistan while chasing a tricky 160-run target. Jan 2015: Scores 110 in the first innings of his second Test, against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground after a forgettable debut at the MCG. Later in the same month becomes the first batsman from Karnataka to score a triple-hundred in the Ranji Trophy. At the age of 22, Kannaur Lokesh Rahul has given enough evidence of immense maturity that belies his age. In the interview on return from Singapore Rahul had said “When it comes to batting I used to watch a lot of Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar. Nowadays I am a big fan of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers’s batting, also because I have played in the RCB (Royal Challengers Bangalore) with them.” Cut to 2015, the youngster batted alongside Kohli and forged a crucial 141-run stand in the Sydney Test which helped India draw the match. It was his first Test century and he had arrived at the highest level. Drawing from the confidence, Rahul notched up his first triple-century in first-class cricket later that month. The century in Australia has boosted the youngster’s confidence. In a chat with bcci.tv, Rahul spoke about his first taste of Test cricket and how it has matured him as a cricketer. Excerpts from the interview: How has the Australia experience helped you evolve as a batsman? It was a really good tour and I learnt a lot from it. I got a fair bit of success and tasted some failure as well. Being there in the dressing room is always a special feeling for a youngster. I learnt about international cricket and about success and how you have to discipline yourself. I have come back as a stronger and a more mature cricketer and person. The hundred obviously gave me confidence. Then I had to turn up here (in the Ranji Trophy) and bring the same focus back and give it my best. I have been batting well, hitting the ball well. I hope to continue in the same vein in the coming games. What helped you transform the poor outing on your Test debut to a century in the next? I wasn’t well prepared mentally in the first Test. I was found wanting when I went in to bat the first few times. But the players in the dressing room helped me. All of them came and had a chat with me because they have all been through that. Many of them didn’t have good outings in their first few matches. All of them spoke to me, motivated and inspired me. The coaches and the support staff also showed a lot of faith in me, first of all in thinking that I was worthy enough to make a debut on the Australian soil and then to give me a second chance and send me to open batting. It was very big opportunity. I am really happy that they showed faith in me and I am proud of myself that I didn’t let them down the second time. How different was it to open and that too under that kind of pressure? It was a good experience. I knew that if I get through the first twenty minutes I would feel better and I could play the way I do back home. It was about getting past the first 20-30 minutes as an opener. Once I got through the first day and was batting on 30, I was confident enough going into the second day. I knew that it was going to be tough, runs weren’t going to come easily and the wicket was on the slower side. The Australian bowlers were always pitching the ball in the right areas and never gave anything away. I had to fight it out and play 250 balls to get my 100. It was a good experience and I liked the challenge. I have always been someone who takes up the challenge. I enjoyed every ball of it and every bit of the Test match. What was it like to bat with Virat Kohli? It is hard. At one end you are struggling to get runs and he just walks in and keeps getting runs from every ball that he faces. It was a lot of fun to watch him bat from the other end and I got to learn so much from him in the middle. He is such a passionate person and such an aggressive and positive person that it rubs on to his partner. He helped me in the middle and I am happy that partnership came. I got to learn about international cricket and the way Virat approaches the game. Coming back to India you continue to be amongst runs. How was it batting in the middle for your triple-ton? Were you aware of the milestone? Not really. I went in to bat and I was enjoying right from the first ball. I love batting at the Chinnaswamy (Stadium). It is my home ground and I always enjoyed batting there. It was a good challenge. We had lost a couple of early wickets so I knew that I had to take up the responsibility. In the previous game against Baroda I had played a rash stroke and got out on 89 and felt like I had let the team down a little bit. So this time I took up the responsibility and kept batting. It was a good wicket so I was getting runs very easily. I didn’t want to throw away this opportunity. Once I got 200 I knew I was approaching a milestone. It’s not just the fact that I was the first player from Karnataka to get 300 but for anybody to get a triple-hundred is an amazing feeling. It’s not every day that you turn up at the ground and get a triple-hundred. You have developed a reputation for being a reliable batsman. What are the factors that have helped you become the batsman you are today? Since a very young age I have been a hardworking person. I spent a lot of time with my coaches on my skill and worked a lot from about 13 to 18 years of age. I paid a lot of attention to my skill and spent a lot of time in the nets and on the ground. I would be on the ground the whole day, probably go back in the night. Keep practicing. Once I got to a stage where I started playing first-class cricket I knew that I had the skill. With that taken care of, I had to talk to senior players and coaches and work on the mental aspect because that is what counts at the higher level. I keep learning from the senior players. I am someone who goes and talks to everyone and tries to learn about a various things – what they are thinking of when they do well and what are the things that come in your mind that can put you off and make you play a rash stroke. I am still learning. Batting is all about mental strength, toughness and how much you can control your mind. I am learning the things that suit me best and get me into the zone where I can perform well. Who are the coaches you turn to? Right through my early days I have gone to Samuel Jayaraj in Mangalore. He has been my coach throughout. If I have anything to share, anything good or bad, I go to him. I train with him. He always spends time with me and knows me inside and out. He knows what is good for me and what is not. He is someone I turn to. Also, coming through the ranks of NCA, state academy and playing Ranji trophy, I have worked with many other coaches and everybody has helped me through the times. I am very thankful to all of them. What are the areas you are looking to sharpen? My fitness has been a little iffy and I have been having a few problems. That is something I have been working on to be at the top of my game. During the off-season you have to pay a lot of attention to fitness so that you don’t break down. With regard to batting, like I said it is more mental. I control myself, control my mind and find out what can help me get in the zone to be successful when I go out to bat. Those are just a few things that I am learning to do. Are there pressures and expectations of being a Rahul from Karnataka? No not really (smiles). As of now the comparisons are all good and there has never been a bad criticism about me. So it’s good. I don’t pay too much attention to what people write or say. I am enjoying my batting. Rahul Dravid has always been someone who I have looked up to. He is a legend. The way he has handled himself on the field and the way he has batted for India through the years has been wonderful. It’s been great watching him and I have learnt a lot about batting from him.