KL Rahul Breaks Azharuddin’s Record with Century in Rajkot During IND vs NZ 2nd ODI

Udaipur, Jan 15, 2026: Opener, middle-order batter, wicketkeeper, captain, crisis solver — KL Rahul fits seamlessly into every role. Over the years, his fans have come to understand his strengths and limitations well. On Wednesday, Rahul once again showcased his importance to the Indian team during the second ODI against New Zealand, stepping up when the team needed him most.

In a challenging situation, Rahul played the role of saviour and backed it up with a brilliant century, writing a new chapter in Indian cricket history.

Rahul Breaks Mohammad Azharuddin’s Record

Batting first for India, KL Rahul put the New Zealand bowlers under immense pressure. His confident stroke play steadily shifted the momentum, leaving the Kiwi attack searching for answers. Rahul capitalised on this dominance and went on to play an unbeaten knock of 112 runs off 92 balls.

His innings included 11 boundaries and one six, marking his eighth century in One Day Internationals, achieved in just his 93rd ODI appearance. Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin had scored seven ODI centuries across 334 matches. With this innings, Rahul surpassed Azharuddin’s record, underlining his consistency at the international level.

Notably, Rahul’s 112* in Rajkot is now the highest individual score by an Indian at this venue in ODI cricket.

India Recovers After Early Setbacks

India lost the toss in Rajkot and were asked to bat first. Openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill provided a steady start, but the innings soon lost momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals. Virat Kohli was dismissed for 23, putting additional pressure on the middle order.

At that stage, Rahul took full responsibility and focused on rebuilding the innings while keeping the scoreboard moving.

Key Partnerships Steady the Innings

Batting became slightly difficult during the middle overs, but Rahul showed composure and smart game awareness. He added a crucial 73-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Ravindra Jadeja, stabilising India’s innings before accelerating in the final overs.

His ability to balance caution with aggression ensured India reached a competitive total.

India Post 285, Bowlers Face a Tough Task

Thanks to Rahul’s composed century, India finished with 285 runs on the board. At one point, crossing even 250 looked challenging, making his contribution even more valuable.

With the average first-innings score at Rajkot being around 322, New Zealand may feel confident during the chase. However, India will rely on disciplined bowling to defend the total. To succeed, the visitors may need an innings similar to Rahul’s to guide them home.