Rohit Sharma (Source: AFP)
Former Indian captain Rohit Sharma has been one of India’s batting mavericks in the One-Day Internationals (ODIs). Since opening the batting in 2013, he has been one of the pillars of India's dominant legacy in the format.
He has scored 11895 runs in 288 matches, averaging 48.95 and striking at 93.05. He is India's third-highest run-scorer in the format and has scored 34 centuries, with a record three of them being double centuries.
With speculations over his retirement from ODI cricket doing the rounds on social media after the England tour, we take a look at the mercurial batter's best ODI knocks that went in vain.
Top 5 Rohit Sharma ODI knocks that went in vain
5) 133 vs Australia- January 12, 2019
Rohit Sharma’s individual brilliance was not enough to make up for a floundering top and middle order as India suffered a 34-run defeat at the hands of a resilient Australia in the first One-day International in Sydney on January 12, 2019.
Sharma conjured a magnificent 133 off 129 balls for his 22nd ODI hundred, which at that time tied him with Sourav Ganguly for the third-most ODI centuries by an Indian, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. But it only helped reduce the margin of defeat, as India ended up at 254 for nine while chasing a 289-run target.
Chasing a target of 289, India was in absolute tatters at 4/3 after a lethal opening spell by Jason Behrendorff and Jhye Richardson. Rohit’s 129-ball 133 single-handedly kept India in contention until he holed out in the 46th over.
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True to his character, Rohit noted an unwanted statistic in the post-match: every time he had scored a century in Australia up to that point, India had lost the match.
Moreover, the innings was especially emotional as he had just returned to Australia following the birth of his daughter, Samaira.
4) 171* vs Australia- January 12, 2016
Sharma returned to the cricket field after a seven-month break when India faced Australia in the first ODI at the Perth Stadium. It provided the perfect opportunity to take a look at his highest-ever score in an ODI on Australian soil, although Indian fans may not be thrilled to know what happened after Rohit and India’s innings.
Once again, the Indian duo, Rohit and Virat Kohli, stitched an incredible 207-run stand. Then came Rohit’s century in the 37th over, and soon he took off. The boundaries started flowing from his bat, and his next 50 came in just over 30 balls. Rohit finished the innings unbeaten on 171 off 163 balls.
Quite incredibly, though, that was far from enough. The then Australia captain Steve Smith smashed 149 off 135, and George Bailey scored 112 in 120 as Australia chased the 310-run target down with five wickets and four balls to spare.
3) 150 vs South Africa- October 11, 2015
Yet another flamboyant century by Rohit Sharma that went in vain was his 150-run knock as South Africa pulled off a thrilling five-run victory in an ODI match against India.
Rohit struck six sixes and 13 fours off 133 deliveries before he was caught and bowled by Tahir at 269-4 with 46.1 overs gone. Rohit got to his eighth ODI century with a flicked four over mid-wicket off seam bowler Farhaan Behardien and struck some lusty blows on the leg-side when the asking rate climbed.
He added 149 for the second wicket with Ajinkya Rahane, who scored 60 off 82 balls before being dismissed while trying to force the pace.
However, India would have been nowhere near the target if it were not for Rohit, who opened the batting in Kanpur heat and lasted almost till the end. The script went horribly wrong after Rohit’s departure as India crumbled under pressure to end at 298 for seven.
2) 138 vs Australia- January 18, 2015
In the opening match of the Tri-series ODI played between India and Australia, Rohit Sharma overcame poor form and an early collapse to slam his sixth hundred at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. After electing to bat, India were dealt crucial blows when Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane and the in-form Virat Kohli were removed in rapid succession.
It is worth noting that the Men in Blue were in a spot of bother when Suresh Raina joined Rohit at 59/3. The duo decided not to let the Aussie pacers bully them despite their early success. While Raina set about attacking the home bowlers, Rohit played the sheet anchor's role to perfection.
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The stylish Mumbai batter played shots on both sides of the wicket and raced away to his fifty with a six. At that time, he was often blamed for throwing away good starts, but that day Rohit looked determined to make this innings count. The textbook strokes continued to pierce the field, and the hundred came off 109 balls. This was his third hundred vs Australia.
With the knock, Rohit became the first Indian opener since Sachin Tendulkar to score a hundred against Australia in Australia.
Although India eventually failed to contain a strong Australian batting contingent, featuring David Warner, Steve Smith, and Aaron Finch, and lost the game by 4 wickets, Rohit’s effort was worth its weight in gold.
1) 138 vs England, July 19, 2026
With his back against the wall and an illustrious career on the line, Rohit Sharma silenced his critics the only way he could, smashing one of his most celebrated centuries in recent memory.
His innings was a historic masterclass in the series-deciding third ODI at Lord's. At 39 years old, Rohit broke a long-standing jinx by becoming the first Indian player to score an ODI hundred at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground, surpassing Sourav Ganguly's previous highest score at the venue.
The knock came under immense personal pressure amid heavy speculation from fans and management about his ODI future. His fighting century, the 34th of his ODI career, served as a massive statement of resilience.
With this 110-ball masterclass (featuring 17 fours and 5 sixes), he became the oldest Indian to score an ODI century, alongside tying the record for the most ODI centuries (8) in England by any visiting cricketer.
He also shared a spectacular 113-run partnership with Virat Kohli, which kept India mathematically in the hunt while chasing a mammoth 388-run target. Though it wasn't enough to prevent a 27-run defeat in the third ODI against England, as India surrendered the series 1-2 at Lord's.
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.jpg?type=mq "Yuvraj Singh On Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli's ODI future")
