IND vs NZ 2nd ODI: The hosts might have gotten their dependable middle-order ODI batter. Post KL Rahul's brilliant knock of 112 against the Kiwis in Rajkot, where Sunil Gavaskar compared him to Rahul Dravid.

During an interaction on Star Sports, Gavaskar called Rahul a “class act” and the team's modern-day crisis man, just like Dravid was once for the team.

“Look, he’s always been a class act. He’s always been a wonderful, wonderful batter to watch. He’s got everything in the book — he’s got the technique, he’s got the temperament, he’s got the range of shots,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying on Star Sports.

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“He is the crisis man, just like another Rahul from Karnataka, Rahul Dravid. Whenever there is trouble, you can depend on him. You’re breathing easy, knowing that he will take care of whatever is happening,” he added.

Rahul's knock in Rajkot perfectly summed up that comparison. Since both Kohli and Rohit had a forgetful outing, the hosts were on the verge of posting a below-par target. Rahul, who came in to bat in the No.5 position, helped the team bounce back by batting aggressively. He smashed his ton off just 87 balls and stayed unbeaten at 112 off 92 balls.

He helped the team post a target of 280 runs, which once looked highly unlikely owing to the middle and lower order collapse. Gavaskar emphasised how Rahul's knock alone changed the tempo of this innings.

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“Whether it’s opening the batting or playing in the middle order — at four, five, or six — you saw the way he handled that pressure situation and took the team home. This time around, he’s given them at least 40–50 more runs than what otherwise would have happened,” he added.

“If he had got out early, I don’t think India would have reached even 240–250. Those extra 40 runs could well make the difference between winning and losing,” he concluded.

The Rajkot ODI saw a trend. Rahul had scored 40, 66, and now an unbeaten 112 while batting at this position. Till now, he has scored 1467 runs after playing in 33 ODIs at a staggering average of 63, and these stats go down when he bats at the No.6 position.

A team that often has a hard time bouncing back after suffering a collapse, Rahul's ability to stay calm is quite important.