KL Rahul scores his ninth ODI century, takes India to strong score despite shaky start

KL Rahul joined the Indian cricket team for the final ODI against West Indies with 25 overs left in the series. Having played in an expendable middle-order batting position for his third white-ball innings, Rahul faced scrutiny following a poor start to the England tour. A scuppered opening knock of 1 and a brush with an "illness" led to his exclusion from the second match, with Ishan Kishan stepping in.

Rahul's return at Lord's for the series-decider saw Kishan retain his gloves. Rahul's stellar form, including a T20 World Cup and domestic league triumph, and a century in his ODI comeback against Afghanistan, have put him in the spotlight. Over the last two seasons, Rahul has been seen as a potential floating role between numbers 5 and 7, taking on the mantle of a left-handed batter due to a dearth of left-handers in India's top six.

On Saturday, Rahul put aside the recent concerns surrounding his position by hitting a career-best unbeaten 129 off 87 balls, breaking several milestones. Despite the slowing pace of the maturing ball, Rahul showcased his white-ball skills, shattering the white-ball rust to become India's highest run-scorer at number five. His performance this Saturday suggests that his middle-order batting skills are nearing their peak, making him a strong contender for a stable wicket-keeping position at number five for India.