It was a blockbuster Sunday for all Indian cricket fans as the team won the first match of the series in style. While Virat Kohli named Man of Match, KL Rahul showed his brilliant hard hitting skills to sum off the game in Vadodara.

Extraordinary batting skills from KL Rahul

India ‘s experienced wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul played a brilliant innings of 29 not out off 21 balls in the first ODI against New Zealand (IND vs NZ 1st ODI) on Sunday, January 11. The entire incident occurred in the 49th over of the Indian innings. New Zealand’s 24-year-old fast bowler, Christian Clarke, was bowling the over, making his debut.

So, KL Rahul decided to target him and end the match. What followed was a brilliant display of class on the Vadodara pitch, smashing two consecutive fours and a six off Clarke’s last three balls to end the match. It’s worth noting that former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who, like KL Rahul, was a wicketkeeper-batsman, often took games to the final overs, then smashed fours and sixes to help India win matches under pressure.

This is why KL Rahul’s performance in the Vadodara ODI reminded Indian fans of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. In the Vadodara ODI, Indian captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bowl first, after which New Zealand scored 300 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 50 overs, thanks to half-centuries from Daryl Mitchell (84), Henry Nicholls (62), and Devon Conway (56).

In reply, Virat Kohli scored 93 runs off 91 balls, Shubman Gill scored 56 runs off 71 balls, and Shreyas Iyer scored 49 runs off 47 balls for the Indian team , on the basis of which the hosts achieved the target of 301 runs in 49 overs and won the match by 4 wickets.