On December 13, India’s stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma struck a record third double ton in One Day Internationals (ODIs) against Sri Lanka at Mohali to embark on a new chapter in his illustrious career. Days later, the team’s ‘Hitman’ has now gone on to score a century in the ongoing T20I series against the same opposition.
The Mumbai batsman dished out a superb knock to equal David Miller’s record of earlier setting the fastest T20I ton in just 35 balls. Rohit was in a different zone altogether in Indore as he showed no mercy to disseminate Lankan bowlers and see his team post 260 runs on the board batting first. The opening batsman was well complimented by his partner KL Rahul, who smashed his 2nd half century in two T20 internationals in the ongoing series.
The duo added 165 runs for the 1st wicket in just the 13th over to highlight an association of carnage. Out of their 165 runs, Rohit himself stole the show effortlessly with a 118-run knock off just 43 deliveries, smashing 12 fours and 10 sixes. Interestingly, 108 runs out of his 118, came in boundaries. Rohit has set his own legacy in batting in the shorter formats and this knock is in a league of its own.
Rohit has had his share of records as he keeps setting new ones. This innings was the fastest hundred by an Indian batsman in the format. The previous one was held by KL Rahul off 46 balls against West Indies in 2016 at Lauderhill. The 30-year-old was at his best from the word go smashing all the bowlers to pile misery on the Lankans. He brought his fifty in just 23 balls and took another 12 to get to his 2nd and bring up a hundred.
His acceleration is a wonder in limited-over matches and once he found himself going, there was no stopping the maestro. The best of his innings came in the 11th over when he smashed Thisara Perrera for four consecutive sixes. Such was the in-form batsman’s power and ability that makes him one of the world’s best. This was one of the most reputed innings in the format a fan could have witnessed as Indore went berserk with Christmas round the corner.
Getting runs against the Lankans has become a habit for Rohit and credit to his approach that helped the side win the series with a match to spare. The ODI 2-1 series victory had given Rohit the confidence to carry the momentum in the T20Is as well and he delivered the justice his side deserved. Apart from the heroic innings, his on-field decisions was laudable. His decision to promote MS Dhoni to No. 3 in Indore was masterclass.
Moreover his captaincy has shown maturity in the absence of regular skipper Virat Kohli. The stylish batsman’s other notable move of the series was his decision to include both Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav into the starting line-up. The wrist spinners have been tremendous for India and after a grand show in the 1st game, the duo were phenomenal in Indore too.
With this knock, his record speaks for himself. Here are a few of the statistics.
- Became first Indian to score two tons in T20Is.
- Scored the fastest T20I ton by an Indian.
- Equaled the fastest ton set in T20 internationals.
- Helped the side make joint second highest T20I score.
- 8th century across all formats in 2017
Rohit has been included in India’s Test team for the tour to South Africa as well and he will look to now show that he is a complete man like Kohli in all three formats. He has put himself in contention for a starting berth in the Test side in the 3-match Test series starting from January.