In India vs Australia ODI Series, India and Australia gear up for three ODIs, starting January 14 in Mumbai. Indian cricket team vice-captain Rohit Sharma will return to the fold after being rested for the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka.
Team India won the series by a 2-0 margin. And now the focus shifts on a high-profile series against an in-form Australia, who are on a match-winning spree.
Rohit had a busy 2019 and he stood the test of times. The 32-year-old batsman ended as the second-highest run-scorer across formats in the calendar year after Indian skipper Virat Kohli.
One of the pillars of Indian cricket, Rohit amassed the most runs in ODIs last year and struck a staggering seven centuries to show his worth.
With plenty of experience under his belt, the opener will be wanting to continue in the same vein from last year.
Australia have been Rohit’s favourite team in the 50-over format and he will look to enhance his reputation.
The Hitman is one of the best on business when it comes to ODI cricket. He is highly experienced and his runs atop will benefit India largely.
Interestingly, Australia are the side to beat at the moment.
They are a champion unit and boast of some of the best bowlers. The challenge between bat and ball will be highly interesting and one expects Rohit to come out unscathed.
2020 will be a significant year for Rohit and his test starts now.
Last year, he had got off to a bright start with a productive ton against Australia at the SCG. Can he back himself to set the standards in this series?
Rohit is in the peak of his career and this is a moment where we could see him script many milestones and feats in the game.
Here we look at five major milestones Rohit can achieve in the three-match ODI series against Australia.
Rohit in line to become the second-fastest to 9,000 ODI runs
The Hitman has gone on to score a total of 8,944 runs in a splendid ODI career so far. The senior batsman has achieved an average of 49.14, which is a strong hallmark of what he can provide.
The 32-year-old cricketer needs another 56 runs to reach the 9,000-run mark in the 50-over format.Rohit (214 innings) can become the second-fastest to score 9,000 ODI runs. The Indian vice-captain could surpass former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly, who took 236 innings.
Meanwhile, Team Indian captain Virat Kohli is the fastest to 9,000 ODI runs. He achieved the mark in 194 innings.
Rohit can become the second-fastest to 30 career ODI hundreds
Till date, only three batsmen who have scored 30-plus centuries in ODI cricket. Former Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar leads the tally with 49 tons, followed by Kohli (43 tons), and former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting (30 tons). Rohit has 28 career ODI tons under his belt. He needs two more to reach the mark of 30.
If he achieves the mark in this series, then he will become the second-fastest to 30 ODI centuries. Kohli leads the show after scripting this feat in a total of 195 matches. Tendulkar amassed his 30th ODI hundred in 274 matches.
With Rohit being in sublime form in ODIs, he can go on to script this record and go past the likes of Ponting and Tendulkar.
Rohit can become the first Indian to amass 100 international sixes against a single team
At the moment, no Indian batsman has hit hundred sixes against a single opponent in international cricket. And Rohit, who specialises in launching big shots, has the chance to accomplish this rare feat in the upcoming ODI series against Australia.
The Hitman loves batting against the Aussies and has entertained fans over the years. Notably, the senior cricketer has hit 93 sixes against Australia in international cricket. He needs just seven more to register the mark of 100.
With this feat, Rohit will become the second batsman in the world to smash 100 sixes against a single team. West Indian stalwart Chris Gayle holds the record for hitting the most international sixes against a single side. The powerful southpaw has clobbered a total of 130 sixes against England in international cricket.
Rohit can become the second-highest run-scorer against Australia in ODIs
The versatile batsman has registered a total of 2,037 ODI runs against the Aussies in 37 career matches at an average of 61.72. That’s pretty astonishing numbers from the Mumbaikar.
In the upcoming series, the Hitman can surpass the likes of former West Indian legend Vivian Richards (2,187) and Desmond Haynes (2,262), to become the second-highest run-scorer in the 50-over format against Australia.
Interestingly, Tendulkar has amassed the most ODI runs against the Aussies (3,077). Tendulkar amassed nine hundreds against Australia. Rohit, who has seven tons against Australia, need two more to equal the legend. Kohli (8) requires two to get past Tendulkar as well and script a new record.
Rohit can surpass 1,000 ODI runs against Australia on home soil
The Hitman can achieve another special record against the Aussies in ODI cricket. So far, the senior batsman has scored 990 runs against Australia in 17 ODI matches on home soil. Rohit has an average of 66.00 against Australia at home. He has scored three hundreds and five fifties. He also has a strike-rate of 98.31.
Another 10 runs will see him reach the mark of 1,000 in ODI cricket against Australia. Besides this tally, he can also reach 100 fours and 50 sixes in the format against Australia on home soil. Currently, Rohit has smashed 85 fours and 40 sixes. He needs 15 fours and 10 sixes to get to this special mark.
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