Rohit Sharma Shatters Sachin Tendulkar’s Record with Stunning Fifty, but India Falls Short in Second ODI
New Delhi: Indian captain Rohit Sharma showcased his exceptional form with a commanding fifty in the second ODI against Sri Lanka on August 4, 2024, played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Sharma, who has been in red-hot form throughout the series, scored a blistering 64 runs off 44 balls, including five fours and four sixes. His knock, which included a rapid fifty off just 29 balls, played a crucial role in setting up a solid foundation for India. Sharma’s innings was highlighted by a 97-run partnership with Shubman Gill for the first wicket, which came in just 13.3 overs.
In achieving this feat, Rohit Sharma surpassed the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 120 fifty-plus scores as an opener in international cricket. Sharma now holds the record with 121 such scores, solidifying his position as one of the game’s premier openers. His performance in the second ODI also marked his second fifty of the ongoing three-match series.
On the broader list of batters with the most fifty-plus scores as openers, Australian great David Warner leads with 146, followed by West Indies icons Chris Gayle (144) and Sanath Jayasuriya (136), West Indies’ Desmond Haynes (131), and South Africa’s Graeme Smith (125). Sharma’s achievement further cements his place among the all-time greats in cricket.
In addition to breaking Tendulkar’s record, Sharma became the first Indian opener to surpass 300 international matches. His four sixes in the second ODI brought his tally to 330 sixes in ODIs, putting him just one behind Chris Gayle’s record of 331. Former Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi holds the record for the most sixes in ODIs.
Sharma’s 64-run innings also propelled him past Rahul Dravid’s record of 10,768 runs in ODIs, making him the fourth-leading run-scorer for India in the 50-over format with a total of 10,831 runs in 264 ODI matches.
Despite Sharma’s remarkable performance, India faced a setback as they fell short in the match. They collapsed from a promising 97 for no loss to 208 all out while chasing a modest target of 241. Sri Lanka’s leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay played a pivotal role, claiming six wickets and leading his team to a 32-run victory.
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