Indian wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul produced a brilliant unbeaten century as India posted a huge 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 just 80 balls. He played a key role in helping India finish strongly after Rohit Sharma provided an excellent start with an impressive 92. Rahul accelerated during the later stages of the innings and ensured India crossed the 350-run mark.
Rahul Registers Second-Fastest ODI Century
Rahul’s unbeaten 129 was his ninth century in ODI cricket. He reached his hundred in only 80 balls, making it the second-fastest ODI century of his career.
His fastest ODI hundred came against the Netherlands during the 2023 ODI World Cup in Bengaluru. Rahul had reached three figures in just 62 balls in that match.
Against West Indies, Rahul started steadily before increasing the scoring rate as India’s innings progressed. His ability to bat until the final over helped India post a formidable total.
The century also added another major record to an already remarkable India-West Indies ODI series.
The three-match series has now witnessed nine individual centuries. This is the highest number of centuries scored in a three-match ODI series.
The previous record was seven centuries. That mark was set during the three-match ODI series between South Africa and Zimbabwe in South Africa in 2010.
Rahul’s century was also the eighth individual hundred scored by a different batter in the ongoing series. Only one bilateral ODI series of any length has seen more different centurions.
The India-Australia series in India in 2013 produced centuries from nine different players.
Rahul’s unbeaten knock therefore added another milestone to an extraordinary batting series. His century, combined with Rohit’s attacking innings, helped India put West Indies under significant pressure with a massive target of 352.
