KL Rahul Shines with 8th ODI Century Against New Zealand
KL Rahul's Stellar Performance
Rajkot (Gujarat) [India], January 15: Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri and cricket commentator Ian Smith have both praised KL Rahul for his remarkable performance, as he scored his eighth ODI century against New Zealand during the second ODI on Wednesday.
Shastri commended Rahul's outstanding innings, emphasizing that he deserves recognition for his pivotal role in stabilizing the Indian innings after the team was at a precarious 118/4. With the pitch becoming slower and the ball softer, Rahul, alongside Ravindra Jadeja, forged a vital partnership from a challenging position.
“When he came in, the situation was tough. He deserves full credit for how he handled it. Coming in at number five, India was at 118 for four when Virat was dismissed. The pitch had slowed down, and the ball was older and softer, with two new batsmen at the crease. Both Jadeja and he were on zero when they began their partnership. Once he reached around 30 or 40 runs, his fluency was evident, and he played some fantastic shots,” Shastri remarked in a video shared by the BCCI on Instagram.
Smith also recognized Rahul as a savvy and composed cricketer, noting his adaptability in batting positions and his knack for knowing when to accelerate the scoring rate.
“He’s a very mature cricketer who manages situations effectively. We’ve seen him open the batting, play at six, and in various middle-order roles. He’s intelligent and possesses a full range of shots, knowing precisely when to push the accelerator,” Ian Smith stated.
Rahul came to the crease when India was struggling at three wickets down for 115 runs and soon witnessed Virat Kohli dismissed for just 23 runs. Nevertheless, KL continued to build his innings, finishing with an impressive 112 not out off 92 balls, including 12 fours and a six, at a strike rate of 121.74.
He boasts an impressive record against New Zealand in ODIs, amassing 469 runs in 10 innings at an average of 93.8, with a strike rate exceeding 111, including two centuries and a half-century. His highest score against them is 112 not out.