Former India captain and opening batsman Rohit Sharma has become the latest batter to complete 12,000 runs in one-day internationals, surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar to become the second fastest, after teammate Virat Kohli to do so.
Rohit Sharma achieved this incredible feat in the second of a three-match ODI series against the West Indies here at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. In the series opener, Virat Kohli had become the fastest to score 15,000 one-day runs and today Rohit has become the latest Indian to touch the 12k mark.
He completed this feat with a single during India’s chase of 406 runs. Rohit Sharma is now just the third Indian batter to score 12,000 runs and he did so very quickly as compared to Sachin Tendulkar. Rohit had started the series on 11,895 runs and scored 32 in the first ODI in Thiruvananthapuram. That left him needing 73 runs for the milestone before the second match.
And today, on his 282nd innings, Rohit completed his 12,000th run, taking 18 innings lesser than the great Tendulkar. Virat Kohli remains the fastest to do so in 242 outings while Ricky Ponting and Kumar Sangakkara took 31 and 336 innings respectively.
Before this match, Rohit had scored 235 runs in two ODI innings at the Barsapara Stadium, including an unbeaten 152 against West Indies in 2018.
Rohit looked in a good touch from the start and he kept it building along with Shubman Gill. He played his shots against the West Indies attack and built a strong opening with Gill as India began the chase of a huge target in the best way possible.
It was important for the Indians to start off strong after West Indies posted their first-ever 400+ total on the back of John Campbell, Shai Hope and Amir Jangoo’s centuries as the visitors posted 405/7.
Rohit hits 35th century
Rohit Sharma then converted his good start into a brilliant century as he brought up his 35th ODI hundred in just 72 balls, with 10 fours and six massive sixes. He was equally supported by his captain Shubman Gill who blazed onto his century before Rohit. The latter eventually got out three balls after getting to his ton for 101 off 75.
Gill, on the other hand, smashed his second consecutive century in the series and he is building up really nicely for the much-anticipated five-match ODI series in New Zealand. India are also on track to chase the total down well before the 45th over.