IND vs NZ 2026: ‘Pushing Rahul to No. 6 or below is a cardinal sin’ - Dodda Ganesh slams team management after ODI ton

Former India cricketer Dodda Ganesh lauded KL Rahul for his century in the second ODI against New Zealand in Rajkot, stating that the innings highlighted why he has consistently advocated for the Delhi Capitals batter to play at the No. 5 position. He further remarked that pushing Rahul down to No. 6, below Axar Patel or Ravindra Jadeja, was a cardinal sin.

In the match, Rahul held a faltering Indian innings together on a slow surface with a gutsy hundred, guiding the hosts to 284/7 in the second ODI against New Zealand on Wednesday. The right-hander produced a gritty unbeaten 112 off 92 balls, which included 11 fours and two sixes. He forged vital partnerships in the latter half of the innings, wresting control back from the Kiwis, who had earlier ripped through India’s formidable batting line-up.

“This is why I was always harping about having KL Rahul at no 5, in the ODIs. KL knows to pace the inns well, and has all the shots in his armoury to go all-out in the death. Pushing him to no 6, below Axar/Jadeja, is going to be a cardinal sin. KL is Rolls-Royce. Use him,” Ganesh wrote on X.

Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್@doddaganesha

This is why I was always harping about having KL Rahul at no 5, in the ODIs. KL knows to pace the inns well, and has all the shots in his armoury to go all-out in the death. Pushing him to no 6, below Axar/Jadeja, is going to be a cardinal sin. KL is Rolls-Royce. Use him #INDvNZ

05:36 PM · Jan 14, 2026

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New Zealand seized control with disciplined bowling and a touch of fortune as India slipped from 99/1 to 118/4 before the halfway mark. This left Rahul and the remaining batters with the task of rebuilding on a surface that remained tricky due to its lack of pace and occasional low bounce. The other major contribution came from captain Shubman Gill, who scored 56 off 53 balls to register his second half-century in as many games.

With India in need of stability, Ravindra Jadeja (27) walked out to loud cheers and played his part in a 73-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Rahul. However, Jadeja was undone by a delivery that held up slightly, as he chipped the ball back to Michael Bracewell, who took a low catch. With Nitish Kumar Reddy (20) joining Rahul, the pair added a further 57 runs for the sixth wicket before the returning all-rounder was dismissed by a slower, short delivery from Zak Foulkes.