5 best knocks by KL Rahul while batting in middle-order for team India in ODIs

KL Rahul has been critiqued for his recent form and slow pace of play. He was dropped from India’s Playing XI for the last two of the four Tests in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. He made a comeback to national colours in the first ODI against Australia. He batted in the middle order and remained India’s star with the willow in a tricky run-chase. This is not the first time KL Rahul has been instrumental for India. He has been consistent in his outings while batting in the middle order. Here are KL Rahul’s five best knocks by KL Rahul while batting in the middle order for team India in ODIs.

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5. 73(70) vs Bangladesh, 2022

KL Rahul (Source: Twitter)

In the first ODI of 2022’s India tour of Bangladesh, the visitors got off to a horrible start batting first. India were struggling after losing three quick wickets for a score of 49. Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul combined to form a considerable partnership and rescue the Indian innings. However, Iyer lost his wicket at the score of 92 after scoring 24 off 39. KL Rahul, however, held his wicket at one end to score 73 off 70 deliveries. He was the second last Indian wicket to fall as India reached 186. Bangladesh, in reply, came tantalisingly close to losing the game but somehow managed to get over the finish line with just one wicket in hand.

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4. 88*(64) vs New Zealand, 2020

Rahul vs NZ (Source: Twitter)

In the first ODI of 2020’s India tour of New Zealand, India batted first and posted 347/4 in their 50 overs. India faced a top-order collapse. Virat Kohli’s 51 aside, no other top-order batter managed to get a decent score. The middle-order stepped up with Shreyas Iyer scoring 103 off 107 while KL Rahul injected all the pace scoring an unbeaten quick-fire 88 off 64 balls. However, the Kiwis chased the target down with relative ease with four wickets in hand and 11 balls to go.

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3. 112 (113) vs New Zealand, 2020

KL Rahul (Source: Twitter)

In the third ODI of 2020’s India tour of New Zealand, the hosts won the toss and invited India to bat first. India’s top-order struggles continued as the middle order again had to step up. Shreyas Iyer scored 62 off 63, but the real star of the innings remained KL Rahul, who came up big when his team needed him. He scored a dazzling century – 112 off 113. India reached a respectable 296/7. However, his efforts were unsuccessful as New Zealand chased the target down in 47.1 overs with five wickets in hand.

2. 64* (103) vs Sri Lanka, 2023

Rahul vs SL (Source: Twitter)

In the second ODI of 2023’s Sri Lanka tour of India, the visitors won the toss and elected to bat first. However, the hosts managed to restrict them to 215, bowling them out in 39.4 overs. In reply, the Indian top order crumbled like a house of cards as the trio of Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya tried to lead a rescue mission. Ultimately, KL Rahul played a patient unbeaten knock of 64 off 103 balls taking India home with four wickets in hand.

1. 75* (91) vs Australia, 2023

KL Rahul vs AUS (Source: Twitter)

In the first ODI of 2023’s Australia tour of India, the hosts won the toss and elected to field first. They dropped a good bowling performance led by star pacer Mohammed Shami’s three-wicket haul as the Aussies were bundled out for 188. Much like the visitors, the hosts struggled to gain momentum on a tricky surface. India struggled at 39/4, but KL Rahul stepped up, forming a partnership with acting captain Hardik Pandya and later with Ravindra Jadeja to help India over the finish line. Ultimately, the hosts won by five wickets within 40 overs.