Rohit Sharma Surpasses Sachin Tendulkar to Set New ODI Opening Record

During the third and final ODI between India and the West Indies in New Chandigarh on Saturday, veteran opener Rohit Sharma etched his name further into the history books by eclipsing a long-standing record held by Sachin Tendulkar.

Historic Milestone in New Chandigarh

Entering the match needing only two runs to reach 10,000 ODI runs as an opener, Rohit achieved the landmark on the third ball of the innings, flicking Jayden Seales for a double.

In doing so, Sharma broke a 22-year-old record for the fastest opener to reach 10,000 ODI runs. Rohit accomplished the feat in just 202 innings, surpassing Tendulkar’s previous record of 214 innings.

Tendulkar had set the original mark in 2004 during a match against Australia in Brisbane. By overtaking his former teammate, Rohit has further cemented his reputation for extraordinary consistency at the top of the order.

Fastest Openers to Reach 10,000 ODI Runs:

• Rohit Sharma – 202 innings
• Sachin Tendulkar – 214 innings
• Chris Gayle – 268 innings
• Sanath Jayasuriya – 303 innings

Joining the Elite Circle

With this achievement, Rohit becomes only the fourth opener in the history of One Day Internationals to cross the 10,000-run threshold, joining an exclusive club that includes Tendulkar, the West Indies’ Chris Gayle, and Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya.

This milestone follows a period of exceptional form for the right-hander; in the previous match of the series, he struck a dominant century, scoring 101 off 75 balls, featuring ten boundaries and six sixes.

That performance also made Rohit only the third Indian player, alongside Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, to amass 12,000 career ODI runs. Coming just one game after that achievement, this latest record makes the current series a landmark occasion for the veteran.

A Definitive Answer to Selection Queries

These milestones arrive amidst ongoing discussions regarding Rohit’s long-term role in India’s ODI setup. The opener had recently faced scrutiny after chief selector Ajit Agarkar indicated a desire to integrate Yashasvi Jaiswal into the top order. However, Rohit maintained his position as the primary opener for this series.

His response on the pitch has been decisive. Following his century in the second ODI, he reached his 10,000-run opening milestone and passed the fifty-run mark in the third match. For Rohit and his advocates, this streak of form underscores his enduring value to the national team. As India begins strategizing for the 2027 ODI World Cup, his ability to perform at this level will remain a critical factor in the team’s planning.

Source link