KL Rahul emulates MS Dhoni and breaks Yuvraj Singh’s record of 129 vs West Indies
KL Rahul equaled MS Dhoni at No.5 in the elite list of batsmen to score an ODI century for India. Rahul has moved to second place with four centuries at the position next to Dhoni.
On Saturday, October 3, Rahul smashed an unbeaten 129 off 87 balls in the third ODI against West Indies at Mullanpur. His innings contained 10 fours and two sixes.
IND vs WI, 3rd ODI: Update | Scorecard
Yuvraj Singh holds the record for most ODI centuries by an Indian No.5 batsman with seven. Rahul also broke Yuvraj’s record for the highest score by an Indian No. 5 against the West Indies in ODIs when he surpassed his 110 in Colombo in 2005.
Most ODI centuries by an Indian #5 in ODIs
- Yuvraj Singh – 7 centuries from 99 matches
- MS Dhoni – 4 centuries from 95 matches
- KL Rahul – 4 centuries from 39 matches
Highest score by Indian No. 5 in ODIs against West Indies
- KL Rahul – 139* at Mullanpur (2026)
- Yuvraj Singh – 110 in Colombo (2005)
- MS Dhoni – 95 at Kingston (2009)
HOW RAHUL ROCKED THE WEST INDIES
KL Rahul switched on the style in the closing stages to produce a stunning unbeaten 129 off 87 balls to power India to 351/7. He initially played the role of an anchor after coming in during the middle overs, spinning the strike and finding boundaries when the West Indies bowlers erred.
Rahul brought up his fifty off 41 balls and then switched gears effectively. He attacked the short ball with powerful strokes while his offside drives showcased his timing and positioning. Six 78m to Matthew Ford and a clean direct run against Jayden Seales underlined his growing dominance.
Rahul also found useful partners in Naman Dhir and Gurnoor Brar as India accelerated towards the end. He continued to pick apart the gaps and punish anything that came loose, hitting back-to-back fours off Vitel Lawes before launching his final attack.
The acceleration was particularly brutal after he entered the 90s. Rahul smashed an 84m six over deep mid-wicket off Alzarri Joseph before reaching his ninth ODI century with another maximum off Seales. He needed just 39 balls to move from 50 to 100.
Once he crossed three figures, Rahul showed no signs of slowing down. He hammered Seales for another six before dismantling Keem Paul in the final over, hitting two sixes and a four. His reverse scoop for two added a touch of improvisation to a remarkable finish.
– The end