KL Rahul smashes fastest World Cup century by an Indian during Netherlands game in Bengaluru

Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul had been doing the hard yards in the Indian middle order during the ICC World Cup even if their contributions didn’t quite hog the limelight as those from the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli on the Indian pace department. World Cup 2023: News | Schedule | Results | Points table On Sunday in their final league match against Netherlands at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, it was Iyer and Rahul’s turn to take centre-stage as the pair slammed whirlwind centuries following fifties from the top three to propel India to a solid total of 410/4. And Bangalore boy Rahul, who has had a superb run behind the stumps with as glove skills as well as his decision-making, was the toast of India’s dominant batting performance with a 62-ball hundred — the fastest century by an Indian in World Cup history.

Rahul was batting on 37 off 31 deliveries at the end of the 40-over mark, but would accelerate in style in the final powerplay, smashing 65 in 33 deliveries during this phase and bringing up the three-figure mark with back-to-back hits over the fence off Bas de Leede’s bowling in the final over before getting dismissed in the penultimate delivery of the innings. LIVE: India vs Netherlands, ICC World Cup 2023 match in Bengaluru Rahul’s innings not only is the fastest by an Indian, breaking the record that skipper Rohit had set with a 63-ball hundred against Afghanistan last month, but is also the ninth-fastest in World Cup history. Iyer had been relatively circumspect en route to his maiden World Cup hundred and his fourth overall in ODIs, bringing up the milestone in 84 deliveries. Iyer gone past the 50-mark in each of his last two appearances, scoring 77 and 82 respectively against Sri Lanka and South Africa respectively, and would remain unbeaten on 128 against the Netherlands on Sunday. Together with Rahul, he would add 208 for the fourth wicket in just 127 deliveries. Read | Rohit Sharma breaks AB de Villiers’ record during IND-NED match Besides the two centurions, the trio of Rohit Sharma (61), Shubman Gill (51) and Virat Kohli (51) collected a half-century each, with Rohit and Gill stitching a century opening stand, resulting in only the third instance of each member of the top five scoring fifty or more in an innings in ODI history. India’s total of 410/4 is the second highest of the ongoing tournament, surpassing New Zealand’s 401/6 against Pakistan at the same venue but falling well short of South Africa’s 428/5 against Sri Lanka in Delhi that also happens to be the highest team total in World Cup history.