Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa reflected on the recent debate surrounding KL Rahul’s ton at Lord’s, questioning the outrage over him reaching the landmark before lunch.

Rahul slammed a stunning hundred to get his name etched in the Lord's Honours Board. The veteran batter has stepped back into the opener’s role following Rohit Sharma’s retirement and has made an immediate impact with two tons already in the series.

However, Rahul faced backlash for prioritising his century before lunch at the iconic venue, a decision that apparently led to Rishabh Pant's run-out just before the break.

Uthappa questioned Rahul’s approach, suggesting that someone should ask him about the thought process behind the timing of his century.

"Did anyone ask him why he deemed getting his 100 important before the lunch break? There must have been a reason. Why was that a thought? Why was that deeply considered? If someone asked him why, we would have gotten to the bottom of this whole thing about milestones," Uthappa said on his YouTube channel.

India were in the driver’s seat of the game heading into lunch, with both KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant settled at the crease.

Uthappa suggested that the two may have decided to put the English bowlers on the back foot. Rahul likely saw an opportunity to complete his century before the break, setting up a more aggressive approach afterward.

"I reckon the communication between Rahul and Pant would have been you know what, I think we need to take the attack on, we both are set. If I can get my 100 before lunch, then we can take the attack to them immediately after, and then you can hold fort (Rishabh) while I take the attack on and lets get these guys out of the game completely. That perhaps was the thought process," he explained.

India lost the Lord’s Test by a narrow margin of 22 runs, thereby conceding 1-2 lead to England in the five-match series.

The penultimate Test match is slated to be held at Old Trafford, Manchester from July 23.