KL Rahul. Photo: Collected

RAJKOT, India, Jan 14, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul struck a 
fluent century as India reached 284-7 in the second one-day international 
against New Zealand on Wednesday.

Skipper Shubman Gill made 56 before a brief collapse and a 73-run fifth-
wicket partnership between Rahul, who made an unbeaten 112, and Ravindra 
Jadeja in Rajkot.

Rahul raised his eighth ODI ton in 87 balls with a six off Kyle Jamieson -- 
and seemed to whistle as he soaked in the applause.

India, who lead the three-match series 1-0, were invited to bat and started 
strongly courtesy of Gill and Rohit Sharma, who made 24, as the opening pair 
put together 70 runs.

Rohit failed to capitalise on his start and fell to Kris Clarke, before pace 
spearhead Jamieson sent back Gill, who hit his second successive fifty. India 
slipped from 99-1 to 118-4.

Clarke kept up the charge with his medium-pace bowling to dismiss Shreyas 
Iyer for eight and the in-form Virat Kohli for 23.

The 37-year-old Kohli, who toppled Rohit to take top spot in ODI rankings on 
Wednesday, walked back to stunned silence after he inside-edged a delivery 
onto his stumps.

Both Kohli and Rohit play only the ODI format after the veteran duo retired 
from T20 and Test cricket.

Rahul then took centre stage to rebuild the innings along with Jadeja, who 
made 27, as the pair mixed the right dose of caution and aggression.

Wickets kept tumbling from one end including Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy and 
Harshit Rana, but Rahul stood firm to finish with a flourish as he hit 11 
fours and one six in his 92-ball knock.

New Zealand need 285 to keep the series alive.

The series will be followed by five T20s, ahead of the T20 World Cup in India 
and Sri Lanka between February 7 and March 8.