"If he batted 3, he would also go on to get the hundreds" - Dale Steyn's massive claim on star Indian batter after IND vs SA 2025 2nd ODI

Former South African pacer Dale Steyn believes veteran wicketkeeper batter KL Rahul could easily score centuries if he batted at No.3 or opened the batting. Steyn's remarks came after Rahul produced a brilliant knock in the end overs of India's loss in the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur.

After scoring a sublime 56-ball 60 in the series opener in Ranchi, the 33-year-old was even better in the Raipur outing, scoring an unbeaten 66 off 43 deliveries. Standing in as skipper for the series, Rahul has batted in the middle-order, as has been the case in ODIs for the last few years.

Talking about the right-hander after the second ODI, Steyn said on Star Sports:

"He just knows how to do it. Again, if he batted 3 or if he opened the batting, I am pretty certain he would also go on to get the hundreds because of the lack of deliveries faced. But those positions are for other players, and he knows what his role is within this team. And both games so far, he has played fantastic innings."

Steyn added:

"A good, handy knock set by the skipper, KL, and he led his team well in the first one, managed to up the ante when he needed to. And again today, there was a period where he went semi-slow with Jadeja. South Africa bowled well in that little transitional period there, and the last over picked up the most expensive over of the innings."

Rahul's heroics have helped India post formidable totals of 349 and 358 in the opening two ODIs. However, they suffered a shocking final-over loss in the second ODI, leaving the three-match series well-placed at 1-1.

KL Rahul's ODI numbers by position

KL Rahul boasts impressive overall ODI numbers with 3,218 runs at an average of 49.50 and a strike rate of 89.48 in 90 games. The right-hander opened the batting predominantly in the first half of his career, averaging 43.57 in 23 innings at the position.

Rahul has also scored three out of his seven ODI centuries as an opener. However, the stylish batter has surprisingly struggled at No.3, averaging only 25.66 in three innings.

Yet, he has been brilliant from No. 4 to 6, averaging over 55 at No. 4 and 5, while averaging over 43 at No. 6 in 13, 32, and 11 innings, respectively. Rahul has largely been batting in these positions, while keeping wickets for India, in ODIs since 2023.