KL Rahul Shines with Eighth ODI Century Against New Zealand

KL Rahul delivered an outstanding performance in the second ODI against New Zealand, scoring his eighth ODI century. Coming in at a challenging moment for India, he played a crucial role in stabilizing the innings and finished with an impressive 112 not out. His ability to accelerate scoring in the final overs has made him a key player in the middle order. With a strong record against New Zealand, Rahul's contributions helped India set a competitive total. This article delves into his remarkable statistics and match highlights.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 14, 2026, 18:40 IST

KL Rahul's Remarkable Performance

In the second ODI against New Zealand held in Rajkot on Wednesday, Indian middle-order batsman KL Rahul achieved his eighth ODI century. He showcased his skills as both an accumulator and a finisher, stepping onto the field when India was struggling at three wickets down for 115 runs. Despite witnessing Virat Kohli's dismissal for just 23 runs, KL remained composed and played a stellar innings, finishing with an impressive 112 not out off 92 balls, which included 12 boundaries and a six, achieving a strike rate of 121.74.

Rahul's Finishing Skills in Statistics

Since 2025, KL has demonstrated an impressive ability to accelerate his scoring in ODIs while batting in the middle order. He has accumulated 283 runs from the 41st to the 50th over at a remarkable strike rate of 140.09, ranking him among the top performers in this phase of the game. His run tally is the highest, while his strike rate stands fourth, following notable players like Justin Greaves from West Indies, Glenn Phillips from New Zealand, and Sri Lanka's Janith Liyanage.

By the time he reached the 41st over, KL had scored 52 runs off 53 balls, hitting six fours, with a strike rate exceeding 98. He accelerated further, scoring 60 runs in just 39 balls, including six fours and a six, achieving a strike rate of over 153.

KL Rahul: A Versatile Middle-Order Player

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Match Overview

In the match, New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl first. Rohit Sharma contributed 24 runs off 38 balls, while captain Shubman Gill scored 56 runs off 53 balls, leading to a solid 70-run opening partnership. However, they faced challenges due to a strong bowling performance from Kristian Clarke, who took 3 wickets for 56 runs, dismissing Rohit, Virat, and Shreyas Iyer. KL Rahul's partnerships, including a 73-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja (27 runs) and a 57-run partnership with Nitish Kumar Reddy (20 runs), helped India reach a total of 284 runs for 7 wickets in 50 overs.