Overview:
KL Rahul smashed his eighth ODI century by sending Kyle Jamieson's full toss sailing over the boundary in the 49th over. He achieved the milestone in just 87 balls.
KL Rahul continues to impress as a finisher in ODIs. On Wednesday, he scored his eighth century in the format, blasting 112 off 92 balls against New Zealand in Rajkot while batting at No. 5. Rahul entered the crease when India were reeling at 115/3, and despite witnessing Virat Kohli‘s dismissal for 23, he held firm, finishing with 11 fours and a six at a blistering strike rate of 121.74.
KL Rahul made his mark in the record books with his century, becoming the first Indian wicketkeeper to notch up a century against the Black Caps in the ODI format. He also set a new milestone as the first Indian to score an ODI century in Rajkot.
KL Rahul smashed his eighth ODI century by sending Kyle Jamieson’s full toss sailing over the boundary in the 49th over. He achieved the milestone in just 87 balls, remaining not out on 112, featuring 11 fours and a six, as he dominated against the Black Caps.
Since the start of 2025, KL Rahul has accelerated his approach in ODIs, scoring 283 runs from overs 41-50 at a strike rate of 140.09. His runs lead this phase, while his strike rate ranks fourth, behind Justin Greaves (194 runs at 160.3), Glenn Phillips (244 runs at 157.4), and Janith Liyanage (201 runs at 147.8).
Rahul walked in at No. 5, initially struggling with six dot balls before finally getting off the mark on the seventh. As he found his rhythm, he lost his partner Virat Kohli, who was dismissed for just 23.
Rahul paired up with Ravindra Jadeja for a vital 73-run stand, with the latter falling for 27. The experienced batter then carried on steadying India’s innings, with Nitish Kumar Reddy at the other end, guiding the team to a total of 284/7.
KL Rahul’s calmness has been his standout feature in the current ODI series against New Zealand. Whether chasing a challenging target or anchoring the innings after early wickets, he has demonstrated exceptional patience and smart shot selection. With an average exceeding 65 in ODIs against New Zealand, Rahul rarely throws his wicket away. Rather than following the aggressive style of openers, he possesses a sharp awareness of the match, adjusting his tempo when needed and cementing his authority in the middle overs.
In the ODI series opener at BCA Stadium in Vadodara, KL Rahul played a quick-fire innings, sealing the win by blasting two fours and a six in the 49th over to help India overcome New Zealand by four wickets. Rahul’s cameo of 29 from 21 balls included two fours and a six.