IND vs NZ 2nd ODI Live Updates: India found themselves in serious trouble during the second ODI against New Zealand, but KL Rahul rose to the occasion with a composed yet aggressive century to steer the hosts to a competitive score. Playing at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, Rahul anchored the innings and finished strongly, ensuring India reached 284 for 7 in 50 overs.
With the Indian middle order collapsing, Rahul’s knock stood out as the defining moment of the innings.
Early Struggles for India After Losing the Toss
Asked to bat first, India got off to a cautious start. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill struggled to score freely in the opening overs, managing just 10 runs in the first five overs. Although the run rate improved later, Rohit failed to convert his start and was dismissed for 24 off 38 balls.
Gill looked in good touch and brought up a half-century but was caught out soon after scoring 56 runs, leaving India under pressure.
Middle Order Collapse Opens the Door for Rahul
India’s problems deepened when Virat Kohli (23) and Shreyas Iyer (8) were unable to capitalize. With wickets falling, the team management decided to promote KL Rahul to No. 5, a change from his usual No. 6 position.
Rahul walked in at a critical moment and immediately focused on stabilizing the innings.
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KL Rahul’s Counter-Attacking Masterclass
Displaying calm under pressure, Rahul built his innings patiently before accelerating in the latter half. He brought up his 8th ODI century in 87 balls, finishing the milestone with a six. Rahul remained unbeaten on 112 from 92 deliveries, striking 11 boundaries and one six.
His effort helped India recover from a fragile position and put a defendable total on the board.
Crucial Partnerships with the Lower Order
Rahul found valuable support from the lower order, forming important partnerships:
- 73 runs with Ravindra Jadeja (88 balls)
- 57 runs with Nitish Reddy
- 8 runs with Harshit Rana
- 28 runs with Mohammed Siraj
These partnerships proved vital in pushing India past the 280-run mark.
KL Rahul’s Consistent Run in Recent ODIs
Rahul’s recent performances underline his reliability in the format. His scores in the last four ODI innings read:
- 60
- 66*
- 29*
- 112*
He has repeatedly delivered when the team needed him the most.
Outstanding Record Against New Zealand
KL Rahul continues to enjoy batting against New Zealand in ODIs:
- Matches: 10
- Runs: 469
- Average: 93.8
- Strike Rate: 111.13
- Hundreds/Fifties: 2/1
- Highest Score: 112*
Rahul Tops Death-Overs Run Chart Since 2025
Since 2025, Rahul has scored the most runs in overs 41–50 in ODIs:
- KL Rahul: 283 runs (SR 140.09)
- Glenn Phillips: 244 runs (SR 157.4)
- Janith Liyanage: 201 runs (SR 147.8)
- Justin Greaves: 194 runs (SR 160.3)
- Corbin Bosch: 162 runs (SR 124.6)
Rahul Once Again Delivers Under Pressure
At a time when India desperately needed stability, KL Rahul delivered a match-defining innings. His ability to rebuild and finish the innings reinforced his value as a middle-order batter and finisher in ODIs.
With form and confidence on his side, Rahul’s performance has once again strengthened his case as India’s go-to batter in pressure situations.
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