His talent was never in doubt, but it took some time for the ‘Hitman’ to show his true prowess. But once he started opening the innings, Rohit Sharma’s talent came good. Earlier batting in the middle-order, Rohit had a frustrating start to his international career. Yes, there were the odd flashes of brilliance once in a while, but then inconsistency was also his bane. All that is history now.
Since being promoted to the opener’s slot, the ‘Hitman’ has been one of the consistent batsmen for the Indian team alongside Virat Kohli in the shorter versions of the game. Now at the Test level also, he has scored heavily after being asked to open the innings. In the four innings that he has so far played against South Africa, Rohit has played three three-figure knocks including the double hundred Sunday.
Orissa POST takes a look at some of the memorable knocks played by Rohit Sharma
264 vs Sri Lanka (Kolkata, 2014)
Rohit Sharma opened and got out to the last ball of the Indian innings. It was classical hitting at its best. Riding on his knock, India scored 404 for the loss of five wickets and easily won the game by 153. Rohit’s knock came off only 177 deliveries studded with 33 boundaries and nine sixes. Incidentally this is the highest individual score by any cricketer in the 50 overs format of the game. The record looks like being there for some more time. Incidentally, Rohit is the only Indian batsman to have three double centuries against his name in ODIs.
209 vs Australia (Bangalore, 2013)
Rohit Sharma’s first double century in ODIs came November 2, 2013 against Australia at Bangalore. India posted 383 for six riding on Rohit’s knock and coasted home to victory by 57 runs. Rohit’s knock came off 158 balls and was studded with 12 fours and 16 sixes – this again is the highest number of sixes hit by an Indian batsman in an ODI game.
208 not out vs Sri Lanka (Mohali, 2017): Again the Sri Lankan’s had to come up against a marauding Rohit Sharma. It was again power-hitting at his brutal best with Rohit toying with the Sri Lankan bowlers. His remained unbeaten after facing 153 deliveries and hit 13 boundaries and 12 sixes.
150 vs South Africa (Kanpur 2015)
This is another brilliant knock Rohit Sharma played, however, it failed to get India over the line. India lost the match by five runs, but it was Rohit’s knock that took India close to the victory target of 304 runs. Rohit faced 133 deliveries, hit 13 boundaries and six sixes before being caught by Imran Tahir off his own bowling.
137 vs Pakistan (Manchester, 2019)
It was India’s first game in the 2019 World Cup and Rohit saw to it that his side had a good start. Rohit was again at his dominant best, hitting the Pakistani bowlers to all parts of the ground as India posted 336 for five to win the game comfortably by 89 runs (D/L) methods. It was controlled aggression at his best.
137 not out vs England (Nottinghamshire, 2018)
On a difficult track England had posted a competitive score of 268 all out. The pitch was not easy to bat on and yet Rohit made it all look very comfortable to help India over the line by eight wickets. His 114-ball innings had 15 boundaries and four sixes and there was no stopping him as he picked up the England bowlers at will.
176 vs South Africa (Visakhapatnam, 2019): This Test innings will feature among Rohit’s best keeping in mind the amount of pressure which was on him going into the match. Opening the innings in the shorter versions of the game is comparatively easy. The perspective of an opener completely changes with red ball cricket where defence becomes the watchword for success. Rohit weathered all that to get a brilliant and big hundred and cement his place as an opener.
The double hundred Sunday is just an icing on the cake.
PNN & Agencies
