KL Rahul marked a memorable return in the India vs West Indies 3rd ODI, answering early pressure with a brilliant unbeaten century at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. His explosive innings drew a warm welcome from the Indian dressing room, as teammates applauded his composure under pressure.
He finished unbeaten on 129 from 87 deliveries, striking ten fours and three sixes, helping India recover from a shaky start to post 351/7.
KL Rahul answers the call in New Chandigarh
The third ODI was Rahul’s first outing in the series. Having already secured an unassailable 2‑0 lead with strong batting in the first two matches, India faced a new test in the final game.
India lost Shubman Gill for 1 and Virat Kohli for a duck, leaving the hosts in early trouble. Rohit Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad then steadied the innings with a 137‑run partnership before Rahul came to the crease.
Coming in at No. 5, Rahul initially concentrated on rebuilding the innings. Once he settled, however, the wicketkeeper‑batter shifted gears and attacked the West Indies bowlers.
He reached his century in only 80 balls, completing the landmark in style with a six off Jayden Seales. It was Rahul’s ninth ODI century and his second‑fastest hundred in the format.
Dressing room applauds Rahul’s special knock
Rahul’s century was particularly significant because of the circumstances in which he scored it. India had lost two early wickets, while the top order had already delivered heavily in the first two matches of the series. Instead of allowing the early setbacks to derail India’s innings, Rahul absorbed the pressure and eventually turned the innings into an attacking display.
His teammates’ appreciation after the milestone reflected the value of the innings. The standing ovation from the dressing room highlighted how highly the knock was regarded inside the Indian camp.
Smiles, cheers, and celebrations all around
Scenes to cherish for KL Rahul and #TeamIndia
Updates | @mflone_ | @klrahul pic.twitter.com/wFTPDqLlvt
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 3, 2026
He also added crucial late runs with the lower order, ensuring India maintained momentum through the final overs.
Rahul equals MS Dhoni’s ODI record at No. 5
The century added another impressive statistic to Rahul’s career.
His 129 not out was his fourth ODI century while batting at No. 5 for India, bringing him level with former India captain MS Dhoni for the most hundreds by an Indian batter at that position. Rahul reached the mark in just 36 innings at No. 5, compared with Dhoni’s 83 innings.
His unbeaten 129 was also the third‑highest ODI score by an Indian batter at No. 5, behind Yuvraj Singh’s 139 and Dhoni’s 134.
KL Rahul reaches 10,000 international runs
There was another major milestone during Rahul’s innings. The right‑hander crossed 10,000 international runs, becoming the 15th Indian cricketer to reach the landmark.
For Rahul, the century therefore became more than just another entry on his ODI record. It demonstrated his ability to absorb pressure, rebuild an innings and then accelerate when the situation demanded it.
After missing out on batting opportunities in the first two ODIs, Rahul made his return count in emphatic fashion. His unbeaten 129 not only rescued India after a shaky beginning but also gave his teammates plenty to applaud as the dressing room celebrated another memorable Rahul innings.
