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"Mr Reliable": KL Rahul earns massive fan praise after gritty ODI hundred vs New Zealand

Kaushik Kashyap

Fans reactions on KL Rahul masterclass century vs NZ. [Source - @bcci/x.com]Fans reactions on KL Rahul masterclass century vs NZ. [Source - @bcci/x.com]

KL Rahul once again showed his calm value for India in the second ODI against New Zealand in Rajkot. With Team India in a spot of bother at 118 for four on a tricky pitch, KL Rahul absorbed the pressure, and ensured India stayed in the game after the top four were back in the pavilion, including in-form Virat Kohli, very early in the innings.

KL Rahul began cautiously, rotating strike and rebuilding patiently before shifting gears near his half-century. Valuable partnerships with Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy steadied the innings, before Rahul exploded late, finishing with 112 off 92 balls as India posted a competitive 284 total on board.

Fans in awe of KL Rahul’s rescue act vs New Zealand in 2nd ODI

Social media erupted as fans admired KL Rahul’s composure and timing under pressure. Many called it a reminder of his class, praising how he rescued India from collapse, controlled the tempo, and turned a difficult situation into a strong foundation for the bowlers later in the match.

Fans also highlighted how KL Rahul has quietly handled thankless middle-order roles for years. From stabilising chases to finishing games like that we saw in the first ODI, he often stayed under the radar. This century felt special, as patience, responsibility, and his unmatched skill finally came together when the team needed him most under pressure.

This innings was seen as a reward for consistency and sacrifice, with experts and fans feeling the hundred was long overdue for the dynamic right-hander. The knock earned global praise and finally placed Rahul firmly in the spotlight for his ODI mastery. Here are some of the best reactions from fans online.











Why KL Rahul deserves more respect in ODI cricket

KL Rahul's career has been full of hills and valleys, but his ODI numbers now speak for themselves. Averaging over 51 after 85 innings, he has quietly become one of the most reliable ODI batters in world cricket. Despite frequent role changes, Rahul has delivered consistently and with utmost impact when India needed him the most.

His shift to the middle order has proved to be one of the smartest moves in Indian ODI cricket in recent years. Since 2020, Rahul has scored 2,297 runs in that role at an outstanding average of 62.08, underlining his ability to control innings and finish strongly.

While some continue to judge him by one tough World Cup final knock back in 2023, Rahul’s body of work tells a far bigger story. With 3,359 ODI runs, eight hundreds, and influence across formats, he stands tall as a champion player and arguably the best middle-order player of this decade in the ODI format.