India, June 21 -- Fact: Four of India's five highest opening partnerships in England this century have featured KL Rahul. Fact: Seven of Rahul's eight Test hundreds have come as an opener, six of them away from home. Fact: The rate of fifty and hundred conversion-seven hundreds and 14 fifties in 54 innings - doesn't live up to the promise Rahul has long held. Almost 60 Tests into his career, that remains an enduring truth. Friday, then, added another chapter to the theme of what could have been - had Rahul been more judicious.

Vexing, indeed, was how it all ended. Until that wide, full-pitched delivery from Brydon Carse found a thick edge en route to Joe Root, Rahul looked to have his game locked in. There was that one expansive drive in...