Rajkot, January 14 – KL Rahul played an unbeaten innings of 112 runs off 92 balls, including one six and eleven fours, against New Zealand at the Niranjan Shah Stadium. With this performance, Rahul became the first Indian to score an ODI century in Rajkot. He also became the first Indian wicketkeeper to hit an ODI hundred against New Zealand.
Rahul reached his eighth ODI century in the 49th over by sending a full toss from Kyle Jamieson into the stands. The Karnataka wicketkeeper-batsman completed his century in just 87 balls.
Coming in to bat at number five, Rahul started slowly with six dot balls. After opening his account on the seventh ball, he settled in quickly, especially after Virat Kohli was dismissed for 23 runs.
In a tense situation, Rahul built a crucial 73-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja, who scored 27. Later, he joined forces with Nitish Kumar Reddy to push India’s innings forward, setting New Zealand a target of 285 runs.
Batting first after losing the toss, India scored 284 runs for seven wickets in the allotted overs. KL Rahul contributed 112 runs, while captain Shubman Gill scored 56. Ravindra Jadeja added 27 runs.
From New Zealand’s side, Christian Clarke took the most wickets with three scalps. Kyle Jamieson, Jack Foulkes, Jaden Lennox, and captain Michael Bracewell took one wicket each.
In the first match of the series held in Vadodara, KL Rahul played a crucial unbeaten innings of 29 runs off 21 balls, featuring one six and two fours, helping India secure a four-wicket victory.
Throughout the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand, Rahul’s greatest strength has been his patience. Whether chasing a big target or stabilising the innings after early wickets, he has demonstrated calmness and smart shot selection.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.