Picture Credit: Twitter
KL Rahul started his ODI career by scoring a century on his debut game (100*) against Zimbabwe in 2016 when all the senior players including Rohit, Dhawan and Kohli were rested for that three-match series under MS Dhoni's leadership. He played as an opener with Karun Nair in that game, who also made his debut in that game.
KL Rahul was the first and the only Indian player (so far) to score a century on ODI debut and after that Zimbabwe tour in 2016, he played the ODI series against England in January 2017 (on home) which was Kohli's first ODI series as full-time captain. KL later toured Sri Lanka for a five-match ODI series in Aug-Sept 2017.
KL Rahul was seen touring England for the three-match ODI series, which was played in 2018 and despite being in the Asia Cup 2018 squad, he got only one match to play against Afghanistan once again when all senior players like Rohit, Dhawan were rested. KL Rahul later in March 2019 was seen playing only one match against Australia in an ODI game where Virat Kohli was seen batting at number 4 position in Mohali.
KL Rahul with an experience of just 14 ODI matches, was seen selected for World Cup 2019, who was seen playing at number 4 role in the initial games and later opened the batting with Rohit Sharma as Shikhar Dhawan was ruled out of the tournament due to thumb injury. KL Rahul as opener in WC 2019 smashed a fifty against Pakistan and a hundred against Sri Lanka.
KL Rahul post 2019 WC continued playing as opener in the next two three-match ODI series which was played against West Indies and Australia in Dec 2019 and Jan 2020. KL Rahul transformed himself as a middle order batsman during the three-match ODI series against New Zealand in Feb 2020 where he was seen scoring 88* & 112 runs while batting at number 5 as a wicket-keeper batsman.
KL Rahul's sensible innings at number 4 (or) number 5 position has made him to play regularly as a middle-order batsman in the upcoming ODI series also against Australia in Nov-Dec 2020 and against England in Mar 2021 etc.
KL Rahul in 2023, played a beautiful innings against Sri Lanka where he scored 64* in Kolkata, and also against Australia he smashed 75* at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. KL Rahul was seen playing ODIs after a long gap and he played a brilliant knock of 111* against Pakistan today.
KL Rahul in ODIs:
Matches - 55
Innings - 53
Runs - 2097
Avg - 47.65
S.R - 87.37
50s - 13; 100s - 6
H.S. - 112 vs NZ in Mt. Maunganui, 2020
KL Rahul's century while batting at number 4 (or) 5 position in ODIs:
112 vs NZ in Mt. Maunganui, 2020
108 vs ENG in Pune, 2021
111* vs PAK in Colombo(RPS), 2023
