In a historic night at Cuttack, Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma etched his name in the record books, surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar in multiple batting milestones. Rohit’s masterclass century powered India to a series-clinching victory over England in the ongoing ODI series, proving yet again why he is called the ‘Hitman’ of world cricket.
Rohit’s Blazing Knock Steals the Show
England, after losing the T20I series 4-1, came into the ODIs hoping for redemption. In the second ODI, they put up a formidable total of 304 runs in 50 overs. However, India, led by Rohit’s sensational 119 off 90 balls, chased down the target with 33 balls to spare, securing a 4-wicket win and sealing the series.
Rohit, who hadn’t scored a century in 487 days, silenced his critics with a breathtaking innings decorated with 12 fours and 7 sixes. His strike rate of 132.22, which at one point soared to 166.67, left England’s bowlers in despair. The Indian skipper’s performance was nothing short of a statement, proving his dominance yet again in white-ball cricket.
Breaking Sachin’s Record, Making History
With this century, Rohit Sharma became the Indian batsman with the most international centuries after turning 30, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 35. The Mumbai maestro now has 36 centuries in international cricket post-30, solidifying his stature among the game’s greats.
But that wasn’t the only milestone Rohit shattered. He also became the world record-holder for most ODI centuries after turning 30, surpassing Sri Lankan greats Sanath Jayasuriya and Tillakaratne Dilshan, both of whom had 22 centuries. With 22 ODI centuries post-30, Rohit has now rewritten history once again.
Another Milestone in Fifty-Plus Scores
Rohit’s innings in Cuttack marked his 121st fifty-plus score in international cricket as an opener, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of 120. This achievement further cements his place as one of the most consistent openers in the history of Indian cricket.
Rohit Surpasses Sachin in Opener Runs Tally
Adding another feather to his cap, Rohit has now amassed 15,404 runs as an opener across all formats, overtaking Sachin’s record of 15,335 runs. The only Indian ahead of him is Virender Sehwag, who leads the chart with 15,758 runs.
Climbing the Six-Hitters’ Leaderboard
The ‘Hitman’ is also on the verge of claiming another remarkable record. With 332 sixes in 259 ODI innings, he is now the second-highest six-hitter in men’s ODIs, surpassing Chris Gayle (331 sixes in 294 innings). Only Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi, with 351 sixes in 369 innings, remains ahead of him. With the way Rohit is striking the ball, it won’t be long before he topples Afridi from the throne.
What’s Next for Rohit and Team India?
With the series already in the bag, India will look to make it a clean sweep in the final ODI. Rohit Sharma’s form has come at the perfect time, giving the team a massive boost ahead of future international assignments. If the ‘Hitman’ continues this red-hot form, more records are bound to fall, and history will keep being rewritten.
For now, cricket fans can sit back and enjoy the Rohit Sharma show—because records, it seems, are just meant to be broken!
