Key Highlights
- Rohit Sharma struck 119 runs from 90 balls, becoming the second‑most prolific six‑hitter in ODI cricket with 338 sixes, overtaking Chris Gayle.
- Only Shahid Afridi remains ahead, with 351 sixes to his name.
- The innings lifted Rohit to second place among Indian opening batsmen in all‑time international runs, passing Sachin Tendulkar's 15,335.
- India chased down England's 304‑run total, winning by four wickets.
- Rohit recorded his 36th ODI win as captain, matching Viv Richards for the third‑most victories.
Detailed Insights
In the second One‑Day International of the series, India faced a target of 304 runs set by England in Cuttack. Rohit Sharma opened the innings and produced a blistering 119‑run knock off just 90 deliveries, striking at a run‑rate of 132.22. His assault featured 12 boundaries and 7 sixes, pushing his career ODI sixes tally to 338 – a figure that moves him ahead of West Indian legend Chris Gayle (331) and places him just behind Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi (351).
The partnership between Rohit and Shubman Gill (60) yielded a 136‑run opening stand, providing a solid platform for the chase. Middle‑order contributions from Shreyas Iyer (44) and Axar Patel (41*) helped India to cross the finish line with four wickets in hand. For England, top‑order batsmen Joe Root (69) and Ben Duckett (65) anchored the 304‑run total, but the Indian bowling unit, led by Ravindra Jadeja’s three‑wicket spell, kept the pressure on.
With this performance, Rohit also eclipsed Sachin Tendulkar’s record as India's second‑highest run‑scorer when opening the innings, tallying 15,404 runs. His overall ODI run aggregate now sits at 10,987 runs in 267 matches, averaging 49.26, which ranks him tenth on the all‑time ODI run‑scorer list. The win also marks his 36th ODI victory as captain, equalling Viv Richards for the third‑most ODI wins by a skipper.
Key Concepts
- Six‑hitter (ODI): A batsman who has struck a high number of sixes in One‑Day International matches; Rohit now ranks second globally.
- Opening Batsman Record: Cumulative runs scored by a player while opening the innings for his nation; Rohit surpassed Tendulkar’s total.
- Strike Rate: Average number of runs scored per 100 balls faced; Rohit's strike rate for the innings was 132.22.
- ODI Win Count for Captains: Total number of One‑Day International matches a captain has led his side to victory; Rohit shares the third‑place slot with Viv Richards.