In a high-pressure situation that tested the temperament of India’s middle order, KL Rahul Scored a brilliant century while batting at number 5 in the ongoing second ODI against new zealand At Niranjan Shah Stadium. Moving forward with India wobbly, Rahul displayed composure, class and controlled aggression to take the hosts to a competitive score of 284/7 after 50 overs. His unbeaten 112 off 92 balls came across as an innings of responsibility and authority, underscoring his growing importance in India’s ODI setup.
Solid start sets the stage for India
India’s innings had a positive start after New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl. opening pair of Shubman Gill And Rohit Sharma Looked fluent adding 70 runs for the first wicket. Gill, who is leading the team, looked in good form and started the early stages with confidence. However, once the openers fell apart, the pace declined rapidly as New Zealand’s bowlers applied pressure through disciplined lines and timely breakthroughs.
The middle overs proved challenging for India as wickets kept falling at regular intervals. From a relatively relaxed position, the hosts slipped to 118/4 in 23.3 overs, bringing the innings to a crossroads. After the top order returned to the pavilion, the responsibility fell entirely on the shoulders of KL RahulThose who arrived with clear information โ first rebuild, then accelerate.
KL Rahul restores stability along with Ravindra Jadeja
Rahul found an ideal partner Ravindra JadejaAnd together they focused on damage control. The pair added a valuable 73 runs for the fifth wicket, expertly rotating the strike and controlling the loose balls. Jadeja’s 27 runs before getting out provided vital support, but by then Rahul had prepared the outline of the final attack.
Scored a century in Rahul’s style
Once settled, Rahul changed gears effortlessly. Blending elegance with power, he targeted the gaps and cleared the ropes when necessary. In the final over of India’s innings, he brought up his eighth ODI century with a sky-scraping six, a moment that expressed his confidence and clarity. Rahul remained unbeaten on 112 and took India to a total of 284/7.
New Zealand’s bowlers had their moments Christian Clark He emerged as the pick with figures of 3/56, but Rahul’s innings ensured that India remained competitive.
Here’s how fans reacted:
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By a column and gritty century @klrahul Here in Rajkot only 87 deliveries took place.
His 8th in ODI ๐๐#TeamIndia #INDvNZ #2nd ODI @IDFCFirstBank pic.twitter.com/DLBwZWBItx
โ BCCI (@BCCI) 14 January 2026
100 of the highest quality from KL Rahul.
โ Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) 14 January 2026
What kind of pressure is this? @klrahul. a nice knock pic.twitter.com/zkjikm6OEn
โ Mayank Agarwal (@mayankcricket) 14 January 2026
The cricket world needs to pause โธ๏ธ and appreciate this gem of a cricketer ๐ who always moves forward and swings his bat, regardless of the slot! The man who stands in trouble!
KL Rahul ๐ฏ๐๐๐ฅ๐ pic.twitter.com/uF9fPu9Cyo– Rukshi Khan (@Rukshi_Khan_) 14 January 2026
an innings of the highest order @klrahul ๐คโค๏ธ๐ฅ pic.twitter.com/1JS9gBWv4p
– Manjit (@CricMangit) 14 January 2026
Today KL Rahul reminded us that he is not made just for finishing.
He is a player made for centuries and half-centuries. He sacrificed his top-order batting position only for the sake of team composition. pic.twitter.com/ydD1MAv3zk
– Lord God ๐ฉโข (@Lord God188) 14 January 2026
India’s first Centurion in 2026
I love it, what a knock ๐คโค๏ธ @klrahul pic.twitter.com/UZWe3doro4– Manjit (@CricMangit) 14 January 2026
12 runs were scored in the last over.
KL Rahul executed it brilliantly and remained unbeaten โ an innings built on control, then capped with intent.
India scored 284/7, thanks largely to their composure under pressure.
pic.twitter.com/BgsCaVKJIt-Cricket wise๐๐ก (@CSyncing) 14 January 2026
Never doubt India’s trouble-shooter KL Rahul under the captaincy of Shubman Gill! ๐
For reference:- KL Rahul under Gill
โ 958 runs, 60 average, 4 centuries ๐ฎโ๐จ#INDvNZ #KLRahul pic.twitter.com/zkXwt8BLCi
– Prateek (@prateek_295) 14 January 2026
KL Rahul was the trouble-shooter for India, first building a new Indian innings and then taking them to a score where they could fight; and maybe win this game#IndvsNZ
– Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) 14 January 2026
Salute to KL Rahul.
The best thing about him is that when the pitch is the toughest, he will stand there strong, be it Test or ODI. He is not someone who does stat-padding on flat pitches.
The most underrated guy on our team. ๐ pic.twitter.com/M8zk7aGcDP
– Selflessโดโต (@SelflessCricket) 14 January 2026
Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill praised KL Rahul’s innings. ๐#KLRahul #ViratKohli #ViratKohli๐ต #shubhmangil #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/EZ2tAuJ6w0
-Saabir Zafar (@Saabir_Saabu01) 14 January 2026
KL Rahul:
>Can open or bat in the middle order
> Can finish games under pressure
>Can captain and lead the team
> Adapts to any batting position or role
>Effective in Test, ODI and T20
>Wicketkeeper-batsman, adding balance to the team
> Quiet, technically sound, and… pic.twitter.com/jpFPEVCb3Q– Dev (@refocus21) 14 January 2026
KL Rahul
He is a better opener than Gill
He is a better finisher than Dhoni
He is a better wicketkeeper than Pant
He is a better captain than Kohli
KL Rahul Man of Crisis #INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/I5x7j7df1n– Red Captain (@ajay_dhojak07) 14 January 2026
KL Rahul’s average at number 5 in ODI is 64.21 and strike rate is 99.59. pic.twitter.com/GIi93fIXFO
– Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) 14 January 2026
– 4 wickets have fallen at 118
– Runrate is below 5,
– Only bowling all-rounder left,
โ More than half the overs are left,
– The game seemed to be over a long time agoThen KL Rahul said, I have done this before also, I will do it again. He single-handedly saved India’s innings todayโค๏ธpic.twitter.com/tDdiHDKcEg
– Rajeev (@Rajeev1841) 14 January 2026
KL Rahul scored unbeaten 112 runs in 92 balls in Rajkot. Moving to No. 5 during the collapse, he took command of the innings and took India to a competitive score of 284 for 7 with a composed and authoritative innings. #INDvsNZpic.twitter.com/0tTEDKKpLH
– SKH (@Skh9864) 14 January 2026
KL Rahul at number 5 in ODI cricket:
Innings- 33.
Runs- 1477.
Average โ 64.21.
Strike rate- 99.4.
Hundreds – 3.
Fifties – 10.โ Classy KL Rahul has been phenomenal at No.5 for India in ODIs! ๐ฅถ pic.twitter.com/pJbqBeSdHb
– Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) 14 January 2026
๐ฃ: You just need 4 runs to complete your century, play carefully.
Meanwhile, selfless KL Rahul ๐๐ฅpic.twitter.com/YcMr1bFOyb
โ Atharv Shukla (@Atharb_) 14 January 2026
