New Delhi (Nilesh Tiwari): Indian skipper Rohit Sharma hammered an incredible innings as he surpassed Chris Gayle and took the title of the second-highest six-hitter record in the history of ODI cricket.
The century was made on Sunday in India’s and England’s second One-Day International at Cuttack. On a batting-friendly pitch, Rohit once again showed his destructive batting prowess while chasing a target of 305 runs.
Rohit broke Gayle’s record of 331 with his 119-run knock off 90 balls and also surpassed 338 sixes in ODIs. Shahid Afridi of Pakistan has the most sixes in ODI cricket with 351.
Currently, former Indian captain MS Dhoni is at fifth place with 229 sixes, while Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka is ranked fourth with 270 sixes. Rohit took his time to settle down and then started attacking, approaching his innings calmly. The sixth ball of the second over was the first notable stroke.
Sharma surpassed Gayle to clear the ropes with an excellent flick of the wrists. The Indian captain over, had again gone for an aggressive approach to the situation as he smashes one six of his long arm cover drive with the top on the ball coming over the ground against Saqib Mahmood.
Later Rohit was once again very sound in his timing and technique by hitting another six in the same over from Mahmood.
He didn’t lose his cool, though, as he survived a near LBW appeal off the bowling of Mark Wood by responding immediately after that by smashing the very next delivery for a six over long-on. His well-played cut shot for four finished his half-century in just 30 balls.
The innings showed that Sharma could both bat aggressively and patiently, as he controlled his innings while strategically selecting when to attack. His performance showed why he is one of cricket’s most prolific six-hitters, especially in the One-Day International format.
