Rohit Sharma. Image Credits: X
India’s former T20 World Cup-winning skipper, Rohit Sharma, was known for his explosive batting in the shortest format of the game. He made his debut in this format, in the inaugural T20 World Cup almost two decades ago, in 2007.
Rohit Sharma’s debut appearance was against England in India's second super-eight match, but he didn’t get a chance to bat as the top order had already finished the job.
Fast forward to 2024, almost 17 years after his debut, Rohit called his time in the T20Is, alongside his long-time teammate, Virat Kohli, immediately after India won the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies.
From his debut game in a T20 World Cup game to his career's last match in the T20 World Cup, Rohit had played 159 T20Is, scoring 4231 runs in 151 innings, with an average of 32.05, hitting five centuries and 32 half-centuries.
Besides that, Rohit also proved his mettle in IPL as well, smashing 7046 runs in 267 innings of the 272 games, with an average of 29.73, including two centuries and 47 half-centuries. That said, here’s a look at Rohit Sharma’s five best innings in T20s.
Rohit Sharma's five best innings in T20s
50 vs South Africa - Durban, T20 World Cup 2007
India were taking on the hosts South Africa in a must-win super-eight game of the T20 World Cup 2007. It was also the first-ever batting appearance for Rohit Sharma in the T20 internationals.
However, Rohit found himself in a big test as he came to bat at number six after India lost four wickets early at the score of just 61 runs in 10.3 overs.
Rohit stitched a crucial partnership of 65 runs for the fifth wicket with the then-skipper MS Dhoni (45). Rohit went on to play an unbeaten knock of 50 runs off 40 balls, with seven fours and two sixes.
His half-century helped India post 153 runs for the loss of five wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Later in the second innings, India restricted the Proteas to the total of 116 runs for the loss of nine wickets in the entire 20 overs and won the game by 37 runs. Rohit won the 'Player of the Match' award. With this win, India also secured their spot in the tournament’s semi-finals.
79* against Australia - Bridgetown, T20 World Cup 2010
In 2010, it was the third edition of the T20 World Cup, played in the Caribbean. The MS Dhoni-led India were taking on Australia in their first super-eight game at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown. India won the toss and asked Australia to bat first; the Aussies scored 184 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
While chasing the target, India’s top and middle order collapsed drastically as they lost seven wickets at the score of just 50 runs in 10.3 overs. But it was Rohit Sharma who held one end firmly, showing resilience against the fiery Aussie pace attack.
Rohit went on to play a blistering knock of 79 runs off just 46 balls, with four fours and six sixes. However, his gritty knock couldn’t be enough for the Men in Blue as they were bundled out at the score of 135 runs and lost the game by 49 runs.
62* against West Indies - Mirpur, T20 World Cup 2014
India were playing against the West Indies in their second super-10 game of the T20 World Cup 2014. India skipper MS Dhoni won the toss and asked the Caribbean side to bat first. The West Indies could score only 129 runs for the loss of seven wickets in the first innings.
While chasing the target, the Men in Blue faced an early blow in Shikhar Dhawan at the score of just one run in the first over. Following Dhawan’s departure, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli stitched a match-winning partnership of 107 runs for the second wicket to take India closer to a comfortable win.
Speaking of Rohit, he scored 62 runs off 55 balls on a challenging Mirpur turf. This knock still ranks among one of the best and impactful knocks of his T20 career.
109* against KKR - Kolkata, IPL 2012
In the 58th game of IPL 2012, the Mumbai Indians, under the captaincy of stand-in skipper Harbhajan Singh, took on KKR at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. It was the time when Rohit Sharma was yet to become the captain of the Mumbai Indians, a year later. MI won the toss and decided to bat first before losing Sachin Tendulkar early in the third over.
Nevertheless, what followed Sachin’s dismissal was something phenomenal from Rohit Sharma’s bat. He came into the middle at number three and smashed an unbeaten knock of 109 runs off just 60 balls, with 12 fours and five sixes. It was also his maiden century in his IPL career.
Rohit stitched an unbeaten partnership of 167 runs for the second wicket with Herschelle Gibbs (66) to take MI’s score to 182 runs for the loss of just one wicket in the allotted 20 overs. Furthermore, they restricted KKR to 155 runs for the loss of four wickets and won the game by 27 runs, with Rohit Sharma getting named ‘Player of the Match’ for his century.
98* against KKR - Kolkata, IPL 2015
It was IPL 2015’s tournament opener, in which the Mumbai Indians locked horns with the then-defending champions KKR. The holders, KKR, won the toss and invited Rohit Sharma’s men to bat first.
Skipper himself came to open the innings, alongside Aaron Finch, but lost the latter’s company at the score of just eight runs in the second over.
Rohti continued smashing the KKR bowlers and went on to score 98 runs off just 65 balls, with 12 fours and four sixes. Rohit’s swashbuckling knock, followed by Corey Anderson’s 41-ball 55, helped MI score 168 runs for the loss of three wickets in the first innings.
The Rohit-Anderson duo also added an unbeaten partnership of 131 runs for the fourth wicket to stabilize the innings.
Unfortunately, Rohit’s knock couldn’t win the game for his side as KKR comfortably chased down the target in 18.3 overs, scoring 170 runs for the loss of three wickets and won the game by seven wickets.
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.jpg?type=mq "Virat Kohli’s five best T20 innings")
