Indian wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul produced a brilliant unbeaten century as India posted a massive 351/5 in 50 overs against West Indies in the third ODI at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh on Saturday, October 3. Rahul remained unbeaten on 129 off 80 balls and guided India through the innings after Rohit Sharma’s impressive 92 at the top.
Rahul’s knock was his ninth ODI century and also one of the fastest hundreds of his career. The right-hander reached the three-figure mark in just 80 balls, making it the second-quickest century of his ODI career. His fastest hundred came off 62 balls against the Netherlands in Bengaluru during the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Rahul registers second-fastest ODI century of his career
Rahul has established himself as one of India’s most dependable batters in ODI cricket, and his latest century added another milestone to his impressive record. His unbeaten 129 came off just 80 deliveries, with the batter accelerating as the innings progressed.
The century is Rahul’s ninth in ODI cricket, with only his 62-ball hundred against the Netherlands in the 2023 World Cup coming quicker. His ability to bat through the innings and then increase the scoring rate in the death overs allowed India to finish with a formidable total.
Rahul’s innings also complemented Rohit‘s attacking approach at the other end. The pair provided India with a strong platform before Rahul took responsibility for carrying the innings through the 50th over.
Nine centuries make India-WI series a record-breaker
Rahul’s century also became part of a remarkable batting record in the three-match ODI series between India and West Indies. With his hundred in the third ODI, the series has witnessed nine individual centuries, the most ever in a three-match ODI series.
Rohit Sharma’s 75th ODI century partnership vs WI
The previous record stood at seven centuries, which were scored during the three-match ODI series between South Africa and Zimbabwe in South Africa in 2010.
Rahul’s hundred was the eighth individual century by a different player in the series, putting the bilateral contest in elite company. It is the second-highest number of individual centurions in a bilateral ODI series of any length, with only the India-Australia series in India in 2013 producing more, when nine different players scored centuries.
With Rahul anchoring India’s innings and reaching his ninth ODI hundred, the third ODI added another chapter to an extraordinary run of batting performances in the series.
