Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (Source: AFP)
It was Rohit Sharma's day in the third and final ODI between India and Afghanistan at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday, June 20. The star player played a remarkable innings, scoring 79 runs off 69 balls at a strike rate of 114.49.
Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal guided the team with the bat, but in particular Rohit also set multiple records that placed him above Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar.
Rohit Sharma Creates Massive Record In IND vs AFG 3rd ODI
Rohit Sharma reached his half-century in just 47 balls and became the oldest Indian player to score a fifty-plus score in ODI cricket. At the age of 39 years and 51 days, he surpassed several legendary names on the list.
Rohit now sits at the top of this elite list, ahead of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar and MS Dhoni.
The innings also helped Rohit move past Rahul Dravid, achieving another major milestone. Before the match, both players were tied with 94 scores of fifty or more in ODIs for India. Rohit’s knock took him to 95 such scores, with just Sachin and Virat before him.
Also Read: Why India Started Run Chase With 5/0 vs Afghanistan Without A Ball Bowled?
Rohit Achieves Rare Record Beyond Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar
Rohit Sharma had a nearly perfect day at the field, not just with his batting but also his fielding effort. During Afghanistan’s innings, India pacer Prasidh Krishna dismissed the entire Afghan top order, and all three catches were taken by Rohit Sharma.
This was the first time in India’s ODI history that a bowler and fielder combined for the first three wickets of a match in such a manner.
Rohit's contribution in the field also helped him achieve a unique record. He became the first Indian player to score 50-plus runs and take three or more catches in an ODI on three separate occasions.
No other Indian cricketer has achieved this feat more than twice.
Most Times an Indian Player Scored 50+ Runs & 3+ Catches as Fielder in an ODI Match:
3 - Rohit Sharma*
2 - Mohammad Azharuddin, Rahul Dravid
1 - Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthappa, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill
Also Read: Prasidh Krishna Creates Never-Seen-Before Record In IND Vs AFG ODIs 2026
How Did Rohit Sharma Perform In IND vs AFG ODIs?
Rohit had a decent ODI series against Afghanistan. In three innings, he scored 143 runs at an average of 47 and a strike rate of 115.32.
He started the series with 16 runs off 16 balls in the first ODI. In the second match, he narrowly missed a half-century, scoring 48 from just 39 deliveries. He then ended the series with his match-winning 79 in Chennai.
When Will Rohit Sharma Play Next For India?
Rohit currently represents India only in the ODI format. Following the Afghanistan series, his next expected appearance is likely to come during India's tour of England in July 2026.
The three-match ODI series is scheduled to begin on July 14, where Rohit is expected to feature once again.
Fans could also see Virat Kohli return to ODI action if he regains full fitness after missing the Afghanistan series.
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