KL Rahul Shines with Century in Second ODI Against New Zealand

KL Rahul delivered a stellar performance in the second ODI against New Zealand, scoring an unbeaten century that helped India set a competitive target. This match marked the end of a two-year wait for an ODI century for Rahul, who has been praised for his technique and elegance at the crease. Sunil Gavaskar noted Rahul's potential and confidence, highlighting his crucial role in stabilizing the Indian innings. With this century, Rahul has reinforced his position as a key player for Team India.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 14, 2026, 19:49 IST

KL Rahul's Stellar Performance

In the second ODI of the three-match series against New Zealand, held at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on January 14, KL Rahul, the wicketkeeper-batter for Team India, showcased his batting prowess with a remarkable century.

After being invited to bat first by New Zealand's captain, Michael Bracewell, India set a competitive target of 285 runs, finishing at 284/7. Rahul was instrumental in this achievement, scoring an impressive unbeaten 112 runs off 92 deliveries, which included 11 boundaries and a six, achieving a strike rate of 121.74.

Rahul played a crucial role in stabilizing the innings during a challenging phase, forming a vital 73-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Ravindra Jadeja (27) and a 57-run stand for the sixth wicket with Nitish Kumar Reddy (20), helping India surpass the 280-run mark.

Breaking the ODI Century Drought

This match marked a significant moment for KL Rahul as he ended a two-year wait for an ODI century. His last century was during the 2023 World Cup against the Netherlands, where he scored an unbeaten 102 off 64 balls.

In the 18 matches leading up to this century, Rahul had only managed four fifties, making this performance against New Zealand particularly noteworthy. Sunil Gavaskar, during the mid-innings commentary, highlighted Rahul's potential, noting that he had been somewhat of an 'underachiever' in the past.

Gavaskar expressed that Rahul now appears to be playing with enhanced confidence and clarity, which is reflected in his performance.

Praise for Rahul's Batting Style

Sunil Gavaskar further commended Rahul's batting technique and elegance, stating that watching him play is a true delight. He emphasized that Rahul's graceful shot-making adds to the visual enjoyment of the game.

Over the past two years, KL Rahul has taken on the roles of both a middle-order anchor and wicketkeeper, providing essential stability and scoring crucial runs for Team India during tough situations.

In his ODI career, Rahul has accumulated a total of 3359 runs, which includes 8 centuries and 20 fifties, boasting an impressive average of 51.67 and a strike rate of 90.56 across 93 matches.