(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] Indian batting maestro Rohit Sharma, leading the charge as both captain and opener, showcased a stellar performance against the Netherlands in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023’s final league match at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Rohit’s impressive knock of 61 runs off 54 balls set the stage for a formidable Indian innings.
His innings was adorned with eight fours and two monumental sixes, propelling him to a remarkable feat. The two sixes not only contributed to India’s commanding display but also catapulted Rohit to a record-breaking tally of 60 ODI maximums in 2023. This achievement surpassed the previous records held by legendary cricketers AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle, who had 58 (2015) and 56 (2019) ODI sixes respectively, in a single calendar year.
Adding to his list of accomplishments, the 36-year-old also surpassed Eoin Morgan’s record for the most sixes hit by a captain in a single World Cup edition. While Morgan had smashed 22 sixes in the 2019 World Cup, Rohit eclipsed that record by hitting his 23rd World Cup 2023 six during the fixture against the Netherlands.
Notably, The Mumbai-born etched his name in history as the first Indian captain to amass over 500 runs in a single World Cup edition. His exceptional batting prowess accumulated a total of 503 runs in nine innings, boasting an impressive average of 55.89 . This milestone surpassed the previous record held by Sourav Ganguly, who had scored 465 runs in the 2003 World Cup.
In another eat, Rohit joined the ranks of cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar, becoming one of the few players to score 500 plus runs in multiple World Cups. Tendulkar achieved this twice in the 1996 and 2003 World Cups, while Rohit replicated this success in the 2019 World Cup and the current edition, solidifying his status as a cricketing icon.
Furthermore, he stands alone as the first player to achieve the remarkable record of scoring 500-plus runs in two consecutive World Cup editions, underlining his consistent and exceptional contribution to Indian cricket on the global event.