Indian wicket-keeper batsman KL Rahul played a knock to remember in the ongoing India vs New Zealand ODI series, made history by scoring a scintillating century that no Indian wicket keeper has ever scored. Batting in the second ODI against New Zealand, KL Rahul smashed a brilliant unbeaten ton that not only bailed India out from a difficult situation bit also helped him with an unique record which even former captain MS Dhoni hadn’t achieved.
Playing in the middle-order through his career, KL Rahul walked out when India were in a precarious position having lost their openers and runs had dried up for a while. Exhibiting nerves of steel and clarity of mind, he managed his innings nicely with a judicious blend of caution and controlled aggression. KL Rahul finished unbeaten on 112 from just over 90 balls, and hit clean shots all around the wicket. His knock had been punctuated by a collection of elegant boundaries and an important six, which transferred the pressure back on to the New Zealand bowlers.
But what made KL Rahul’s innings so very special was the history he created. By scoring this century, he also become the first Indian wicket-keeper to score an ODI hundred against New Zealand. Despite India boasting a rich tradition of great wicket-keeper batsmen such as MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant, none had previously been able to post three figures versus the Black Caps in 50-over cricket. KL Rahul’s achievement was quickly noted by both fans and community of the game to demonstrate how big an accomplishment this was.
India’s top order failed to capitalise once again and the team just needed something to calm down and stabilise. KL Rahul, stepping up to that role with the maturity that was required of him, was crucial in finding those partnerships in the middle overs and also keeping the scoreboard ticking. He showed good awareness of match situations when he accelerated the scoring while also running well between the wickets. A stabilising partnership with Ravindra Jadeja helped India to regroup, and KL Rahul’s composure created space for the lower-middle order to express themselves.
This century was also a proof of going to mention the increasing chances of KL Rahul in India’s ODI set-up. In a year, he has become the middle-order rock and finisher we can depend on. His knack of accelerating in the end overs without getting dismissed makes him one of Indian cricket finest white-ball assets. Recent stats reveal that KL Rahul can bat at a magnificent strike rate in the death, which gives great balance to the Indian batting lineup.
Former cricketers and experts lauded the innings with several comparing the KL Rahul dealt with pressure to ex-captain MS Dhoni. But instead of a remedial act or an alternative, KLRahul is winning respect for creating his own personality – one packaged with flexibility, solidity and big-match attitude.
KL Rahul’s knock not only enabled India to reach a competitive total but also provided them the psychological edge in the series. Looking ahead to the remaining contests for India, his form will serve as a big confidence booster for the team. This century of milestones is an aphorism to KL Rahul’s class and resilience, another milestone in a career that perpetually sheds its facets with every season.
