On December 22, 2017, the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore was the site of a remarkable display of batting. India played Sri Lanka in the second match of a T20I series of three games.
The Indian team was still delighted from their victory in the first game and were probably very confident coming into this match. After winning the toss, Sri Lanka chose to bowl first, and they may have regretted that decision immediately.
Rohit Sharma Lights Up the Crease: A Knock Etched in Cricketing History
What came next was an unforgettable display by arguably India’s best opening batsman in the format, Rohit Sharma, in an innings that will forever be a part of cricketing history.
He walked in to bat alongside his opening partner KL Rahul, and right from the moment Rohit came to the crease, he looked to be in wonderful form.
Anyone following the game via a live platform, such as Cricmatch, was about to witness something quite special. The Sri Lankan bowlers had no answers as Rohit started hitting the ball to the boundary with relative ease.
Rohit Sharma – An Unstoppable Force
Rohit’s batting was a masterclass in placement and timing. He wasn’t simply bashing the ball with muscular force; he was taking advantage of the pace that the bowlers gave him and perfectly identifying the gaps in the field. The runs came quickly. Every over seemed to see a new flurry of boundaries.
He was exceedingly harsh on the Sri Lankan attack, taking both spinners and fast bowlers everywhere. The short boundaries of the Indore stadium helped the cause as many of his shots reached the stands for sixes.
His partnership with KL Rahul was growing at a breathtaking pace. While Rahul was playing well and hitting a few boundaries of his own, basically even in his half-century, Rohit was the aggressor. He took his half-century off no time at all, yet he didn’t take his foot off the pedal.
He pushed down the accelerator. The crowd were on their feet and on several occasions celebrated with a cheer for every shot from the man we call the Hitman. It was just pure exhibition T20 batting at its absolute best.
Rohit Sharma Makes A Record Equalling Century
The most unforgettable moment of the game was, of course, Rohit achieving his century. He reached 100 runs off just 35 balls, that would at the time tie for the fastest hundred in a T20 International, a record which was held by South African David Miller. It was also the fastest T20I century ever scored by an Indian batsman, which still stands today.
The foundation of his century was based on powerful yet controlled striking. To achieve his hundred, he struck 11 fours and 8 sixes. There was an electric atmosphere in the stadium, with fans aware that they were witnessing cricket history.
Rohit did not stop there however, he continued to play aggressively and showed no compassion for the Sri Lankan bowlers. He was finally dismissed, but only after putting India firmly on top.
In the end Rohit finished with a fabulous innings of 118 runs from just 43 balls.
His innings stats included:
-12 fours
-10 sixes
-Strike rate: 274.41
This extraordinary innings led to exorbitant score for India. The scorecard on sports apps like Cricmatch365 reported India on a simply overwhelming 260 for 5 in their 20 overs, a score that seemed insurmountable.
Rohit and Rahul opened with a partnership worth 165 runs to build that right platform for the fireworks at the end. Rahul played an excellent innings with a score of 89 runs off 49 balls.
Rohit Sharma’s Superb Performances Seal the Series
The Sri Lankans had a Herculean target, thus they had no choice but to come out swinging. Kusal Perera played a brave innings with 77 runs off just 37 balls, giving them a minute opportunity.
For a moment, Sri Lanka looked like they might make a game of it. Indian Bowlers were under serious pressure, as Perera just kept finding fencing.
However they could not cope with the pressure of the enormous scoreboard. Beyond the departure of Perera, Sri Lanka collapsed and lost their last 8 wickets for 25 runs as India wrist spinners took full toll. Sri Lanka bowled out for 172.
India triumphed over the Visitors by a whopping 88 runs. That victory also secured that India has already won the T20I series due to a 2-0 lead which cannot be overcome. Rohit Sharma’s record-breaking performance was notable enough to clearly earn him Player of the Match.
More than just the runs he scored, it was how he scored them. It was an entertaining, destructive, and thrilling innings that reminded us all how he has arguably been one of the best white-ball batsmen of all time.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1) What did Rohit Sharma’s score finish at in that match?
Rohit Sharma scored a fantastic 118 runs off just 43 balls until he was out, which included 12 fours and 10 sixes.
2) How fast did Rohit Sharma make his century?
Rohit Sharma made his century in just 35 balls, which was the fastest century by an Indian in T20 International matches.
3) What record did Rohit Sharma equal with this century?
Rohit Sharma equaled the record for the fastest-ever T20I century, matching the record that was held by David Miller from South Africa, who scored in 35 balls.
4) Who else had a good game in that match?
Rohit’s opening partner, KL Rahul, had a very good game also, scoring 89 off 49 balls. On the Sri Lankan side, Kusal Perera played a good innings of 77 off 37 balls.