KL Rahul on Saturday Against West Indies in New Chandigarh Added another memorable entry to India's ODI batting record by scoring a brilliant 129 at No. 5. His unbeaten century came in a high-pressure situation and helped India post a strong total, underscoring his ability to adapt to different roles in the batting order.
Rahul's latest performance puts him among India's highest individual scorers while batting at No. 5 in ODIs. Over the years, many Indian batsmen have held this position and played match-deciding innings from the middle order.
Top three highest individual ODI scores while batting at No. 5 for India:
1. Yuvraj Singh – 139 vs Australia, Sydney, 2004
Yuvraj Singh continues to top the list with his brilliant 139 against Australia in Sydney in 2004.
This innings came early in Yuvraj's international career, but it displayed the qualities that would eventually make him one of India's most dangerous limited-overs batsmen.
Batting at number 5, Yuvraj got the opportunity to attack the Australian bowling attack from the middle order. He combined excellent timing with clean striking to convert his innings into a crucial score.
His score of 139 remains the highest ODI score by an Indian batsman at No. 5. It was also a reminder of Yuvraj's ability to convert a middle-order opportunity into a big individual contribution.
Yuvraj's strength was his ability to hit boundaries without hurrying. His compact left-arm strokeplay, particularly off the side and down the ground, made him a difficult batsman when he found his rhythm.
Even after more than two decades, his 139 remains No. 1 in this particular Indian batting list.
2. MS Dhoni – 134 vs England, Cuttack, 2017
MS Dhoni is in second place with his brilliant 134 against England in Cuttack in 2017.
It was a classic Dhoni innings. The former Indian captain was primarily known for his finishing ability, but this innings showed that he can also sustain long innings and dominate an opposition for a long period of time.
Dhoni took his time initially before launching his trademark counter attack. Once he became settled at the crease, his powerful hitting became increasingly difficult for the England bowlers to control.
His ability to rotate his strike and then suddenly clear the boundary was one of the specialties of his batting. 134 was a perfect example of how Dhoni could pace the innings according to the match situation.
The century scored in Cuttack remains the second highest ODI score for India at No. 5, with Dhoni behind Yuvraj's 139.
Dhoni's contribution also highlights the importance of the No. 5 position in India's ODI history. This role often requires a batsman to rebuild after early wickets, while also having the ability to accelerate later in the innings.
3. KL Rahul – 129 not out vs West Indies, New Chandigarh, 2026
Rahul's unbeaten 129 against West Indies is the latest addition to this distinguished list.
India got off to a bad start with Shubman Gill out on one run and Virat Kohli returning to the pavilion without scoring any runs, leaving the team in early trouble. Rohit Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad then rebuilt the innings, before Rahul came in at No. 5.
Rahul initially played the role of an anchor. Instead of taking unnecessary risks, he rotated the strike and waited for opportunities to attack. His half-century came in 41 balls, but the real momentum came in the closing stages.
Once Rahul completed his century, he shifted into another gear. He ultimately finished unbeaten on 129 off 87 balls, helping India post 351/7 in 50 overs. His innings included 10 fours and 6 sixes, which came at a strike rate of over 148.
This century was particularly important because it Rahul's ninth ODI century and his highest ODI score Was. It also helped him reach the milestone of 10,000 international runs, making him the 15th Indian cricketer to achieve the feat.
Although West Indies eventually chased down India's target of 352, Rahul's innings puts him firmly in the record books along with Yuvraj and Dhoni.