Rohit Sharma and big scores in limited overs’ cricket isn’t something new and while he clobbered his way to a classy 162 as India steamrolled the West Indies for a 224-run win, he achieved a unique record of outscoring an opposition–twice in the ODI cricket.
In response to India’s mammoth 377/5, the West Indies could only manage 153, courtesy some fine bowling as they eventually fell nine runs short of what Rohit scored alone.
Earlier, the same thing had happened when the Mumbai cricketer slammed his way to a jaw-dropping 264 in 2014 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata against Sri Lanka in an ODI. The Islanders, while chasing ended up with only 251–13 short of Rohit’s score.
Rohit is also the first Indian batsman to record this feat twice–after the legendary Sachin Tendulkar and out-of-favour all-rounder Yuvraj Singh.
Here is the list-
S Tendulkar (152) v Namibia (130), Pietermaritzburg, 2003
Yuvraj (102*) v Bangladesh (76), Dhaka, 2003
Rohit Sharma (264) v Sri Lanka (251), Kolkata, 2014
Rohit Sharma (162) v West Indies (153), Mumbai, 2018
Also read: India vs West Indies: Rohit Sharma, Ambati Rayudu star in host’s 224-run win
Rohit got off to a fine start with a 71-run opening stand with Shikhar Dhawan and then looked to anchor the innings after his partner was sent back by Keemo Paul for just 38 runs.
Soon after Indian captain Virat Kohli’s dismissal, Rohit adopted a more protective approach wherein he brought some stability to the innings and shared a mammoth 211-run stand with Ambati Rayudu, who played second-fiddle with a hundred of his own–in 81 balls.
Rohit, who had scored 152 in India’s victory in the first match tore into the West Indies bowling and powered his way to 162. His 137-ball essay had 20 fours and four huge sixes as he went on to score his seventh 150+ score in ODI cricket.
It took a fine catch from Chandrapaul Hemraj off Ashley Nurse’s bowling to send back the Indian vice-captain.
Image credit-myKhel