KL Rahul anchors India with unbeaten 112 in Rajkot
KL Rahul once again showed why he is one of India’s most adaptable batters, smashing an unbeaten 112 off 87 balls to steady a wobbling innings and push India to a competitive 284 for 7 against New Zealand at the Niranjan Bhupa Stadium in Rajkot on January 14. The century came at a time when India had lost early wickets and needed a patient, match-winning knock.
Composed, decisive innings
Coming in with India four down and the onus on middle-order stability, Rahul began cautiously, seeing off several dot balls before opening his account on the seventh ball he faced. He constructed the innings with calm and control, navigating damage around him and gradually accelerating when the situation allowed.
His landmark came in emphatic fashion — clearing the ropes off a full delivery from Kyle Jamieson in the penultimate over. The knock featured 11 fours and a six, and was punctuated by smart running and measured boundary-hunting, underlining Rahul’s ability to adapt to the team’s needs.
Key partnerships that rebuilt the innings
- A crucial 73-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja (who scored 27) helped India recover from early blows and regain momentum.
- Later, Rahul combined with Nitish Kumar Reddy to keep the scoreboard moving and take India to a defendable total.
Record-breaking achievement
Rahul’s 112 not out carries extra significance: he became the first wicketkeeper to score an ODI century against New Zealand. In doing so he eclipsed former India captain MS Dhoni’s long-standing mark of 84* against the Black Caps at Nagpur in 2009. Rahul is also the first Indian to hit an ODI ton at the Niranjan Bhupa Stadium in Rajkot.
Wicketkeepers with the highest ODI scores against New Zealand
| Player | Runs | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| KL Rahul | 112* | Rajkot | 2026 |
| MS Dhoni | 84* | Nagpur | 2009 |
| Parthiv Patel | 56* | Chennai | 2010 |
| Rahul Dravid | 53* | Centurion | 2003 |
| Kiran More | 42* | Bengaluru | 1987 |
What the innings means for India
Rahul’s century came at a time when wickets fell around him, and his ability to absorb pressure and rebuild was the defining feature of the innings. By shepherding the lower middle-order and finishing unbeaten, he has given India a solid total to defend and handed the bowlers a clear target to work with.
Beyond this match, the knock reinforces Rahul’s value as a flexible match-winner who can bat wherever the team needs him — and who will fight to keep his place in the eleven.