KL Rahul came good when India needed him by hitting a magnificent century in tricky conditions at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. With New Zealand denting India’s progress with regular strikes during
the second ODI, Rahul kept fighting and scored an unbeaten 112 to take them to a challenging 284/7 on Wednesday.
With that innings, he also secured his place in the record books, becoming the first designated Indian wicketkeeper-batter to score a hundred against the Black Caps in the 50-over format. The previous record for the highest score by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs against New Zealand was held by the legendary MS Dhoni.
Top 5 Scores From Designated India Wicketkeepers Vs New Zealand (ODIs)
- KL Rahul – 112* In Rajkot (2026)
- MS Dhoni – 84* In Napier (2009)
- Parthiv Patel – 56* In Chennai (2010)
- Rahul Dravid – 53* In Centurion (2003)
- Kiran More – 42* In Bengaluru (1987)
Additionally, Rahul is the first Indian to score an ODI century in Rajkot.
Rahul achieved this milestone by hitting Kyle Jamieson’s full toss into the stands in the 49th over, marking his eighth ODI century. The wicketkeeper-batter from Karnataka reached his hundred in just 87 balls and remained unbeaten on 112, with 11 fours and one six in his innings against New Zealand.
Coming in to bat at number five, Rahul began cautiously with six consecutive dot balls, finally getting off the mark on the seventh ball. After settling his nerves, he saw his partner Virat Kohli dismissed for 23 runs.
In a challenging situation, Rahul forged a 73-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja, who later got out after scoring 27 runs. The 33-year-old continued to anchor Team India’s innings with support from Nitish Kumar Reddy, helping the team set a formidable target of 284/7 for the visitors to chase.
Rahul’s composure has been his biggest asset in the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand. Whether chasing a big target or rebuilding after early wickets, he has demonstrated patience and smart shot selection. With an average of over 65 in ODIs against New Zealand, he rarely throws his wicket away. Unlike aggressive top-order hitters, Rahul reads the game situation well and adjusts his pace accordingly, making him invaluable in the middle overs, as evidenced on Wednesday.
Recently, in the ODI series opener at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, Rahul played a crucial knock. He finished the game in style by hitting two fours and a six in the 49th over, helping India beat New Zealand by four wickets with a score of 29 runs off just 21 balls, including two fours and a six.
With IANS Inputs
