Rohit Sharma makes world cup history. When it comes to the current ODI World Cup, India’s captain Rohit Sharma has been in fantastic form.
During Sunday’s game between India and New Zealand in Dharamsala, the seasoned opening batter accomplished a remarkable feat.
Rohit Sharma makes world cup history
Rohit became the third player in history to score 50 or more ODI sixes in a single year, making him the first Indian to do so. Only AB de Villiers of South Africa and Chris Gayle of the West Indies had hit more than one maximum before Rohit.
In the second over of India’s 274-run chase, Rohit accomplished the feat by hitting pacer Matt Henry of New Zealand for a six.
Batters with 50 ODI sixes in a calendar year
58 – AB de Villiers (2015)
56 – Chris Gayle (2019)
53 – Rohit Sharma (2023)
With India chasing a target of 274, Rohit hit a quickfire 46 before Lockie Ferguson dismissed him in the 12th over.
“Good start to the tournament. Job is half done. Important to stay balanced. Not to think too far ahead. Important to stay in the present. Shami took the opportunity with both hands. He has the experience in these conditions and is a class bowler. At one stage, we were looking at 300 plus. Credit to our bowlers at the back end. I am enjoying my batting. Both are different personalities but we (Him and Gill) compliment each other.
Happy that we won. Nothing much to say. He (Kohli) has done this for us so many years. He backed himself to do the job. Kohli and Jadeja pulled us back when we lost a few wickets in the middle,” Rohit said after the match.
In an earlier match on Sunday in Dharamsala, Daryl Mitchell scored a brilliant century to lead New Zealand to 273 all out against India.
After being asked to bat first, New Zealand lost both of its openers quickly, but Mitchell (130) and Rachin Ravindra (75) put together a 159-run partnership to resurrect the innings.
The pair beat the previous record of 136 set by Sunil Gavaskar and Kris Srikkanth in 1987, making the stand the highest between the two teams at a World Cup for any wicket.
Mohammed Shami, a fast bowler, helped India recover in the final 10 overs with figures of 5-54 in his first tournament game.
Ravindra left the game in the 34th over, but Mitchell persisted and reached his fifth ODI century.
