Rohit Sharma Four Runs Away to Surpass Sourav Ganguly; Set to Become Third Fastest Batsman to Scale 9,000 ODI Runs
Jan 18, 2020 at 4:23 PM
The ‘HITMAN’ of the Indian cricket is just four runs away from reaching the 9000-run landmark in the ODI cricket. After the disappointing show in the 1st ODI against the visiting Australia, Rohit had shown some promise by scoring 44-ball 42. The right-handed batsman struck six fours as his strike-rate read; 95.45.
However, the right-handed batsman was trapped plumb in front by legspinner, Adam Zampa in the penultimate ODI in Rajkot. Before returning back to the pavilion, Rohit played some delightful strokes around the ground in the early overs and it seemed as though he will go for a big score yet again. But again, it was not his day to play longer for his team.
Well, the senior top-order batsman Rohit did not just miss a half-century, but eventually was short of a boundary, in a bid to become the third-fastest cricketer to go past the tally of 9000 ODI runs.
Had the opener held his position on the pitch for few more balls he would have surpassed the veteran ex-cricketer, Sourav Ganguly who took 228 innings to achieve a 9000-run milestone. So far, Rohit has scored 8,996 runs after representing India in 216 ODI innings.
Moreover, if he would be able to score four runs in the ODI series decider in Bengaluru he will surpass veterans of the cricketing world – Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, and Brian Lara.
The legendary batsman Tendulkar and Lara took 235 and 239 innings respectively to achieve a milestone.
Virat Kohli sure of Rohit playing in the ODI decider after the minor shoulder injury:
Earlier, India won the second ODI by 36 runs at Rajkot. Both the batsmen and the bowlers gave their best while there was a remarkable improvement in the fielding department. However, while fielding in the deep, Rohit nursed a minor shoulder injury.
In the haste of stopping a boundary, Rohit got his left shoulder popped a bit which increased his fans’ concern whether he could play or not the ODI decider in Bengaluru. Referring to the incidence, the team leader Kohli assured that there is nothing serious.
“I asked Rohit briefly just now,” Kohli said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
“It’s that left shoulder which has popped out a few times. There’s no tear, nothing serious there. So hopefully he gets back for the next game,” he concluded.
In the meantime, the India skipper Kohli is the one who sits atop of the impressive ODI record list. Kohli had reached the milestone mark in just 194 innings and surpassed even the likes of the South African veteran AB de Villiers who took 205 innings.
Nevertheless, Rohit will have another chance of beating the veteran cricketers’ ODI record in the third and the final ODI match.