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Rohit Sharma (File Photo: Internet)
Indian skipper and one of the all-time greats in the history of the T20 World Cup, Rohit Sharma is set to make a record 9th consecutive appearance in the tournament since its inception 17 years back in 2007. He will be leading Team India in the upcoming 9th edition of the T20 World Cup.
Besides that, it will also be the second appearance for Rohit Sharma as skipper of India; last time, when he led the men in blue T20 World Cup 2022, the team made it to the semi-finals of the tournament where they lost to England.
Notably, Rohit Sharma has the highest number of appearances in the T20 World Cup history, with 39 matches on his credit. He has scored 963 runs with an average of 34.39, having a strike rate of 127.89, hitting 9 half-centuries, with the highest individual knock of an unbeaten 79 runs against Australia in the T20 World Cup 2010.
In the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, he will be one of the only two players who had also featured in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2007 followed by successive appearances in all editions of the World T20.
With that said, here we’ll have a look at the top 3 knocks played by Rohit Sharma in his T20 World Cup career since he made his debut against South Africa in a group match of World T20 2007.
Here’s a look at the top 3 innings of Rohit Sharma in the T20 World Cup:
79*(46) vs Australia – Bridgetown, T20 World Cup 2010
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India and Australia were locking horns in the Group F game of the ICC T20 World Cup 2010 at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown on May 7, 2010. Indian skipper MS Dhoni won the toss and asked the Aussies to bat first. Australia posted a total of 184 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
While chasing the target, it was only the then-number-4 batter Rohit Sharma who struggled for India and played a well-fought unbeaten knock of 79 runs off 46 balls, with 4 fours and 6 sixes. However, his knock went in vain as none of the Indian batters could cross the individual mark of 20+ runs and India lost the match by a margin of 49 runs after getting all-out on 135 runs.
The impact of Rohit’s knock can be understood by the fact that he scored 58.51 per cent of the team’s entire total.
55* (33) vs England, Colombo, T20 World Cup 2012
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It was one of the knocks played by Rohit Sharma that played a crucial role in defining the direction of the match. India and England locked horns in the 10th match of the tournament at the RPS in Colombo on September 23, 2012. England skipper Stuart Broad won the toss and asked India to bat first.
India opener Gautam Gambhir and ‘number 3’ Virat Kohli played the knocks of 45 and 40 runs off 38 and 32 balls, respectively; their knocks were followed by the amazing unbeaten knock of the then star ‘number-4’ batter Rohit Sharma; he scored 55 runs off 33 balls, with 5 fours and a six with the bat. On the back of his knock, India managed to post a total of 170 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
Later, India bundled out England just at the score of 80 runs courtesy of Harbhajan Singh’s brilliant bowling (4/12 in 4 overs) and won the match by a massive margin of 90 runs.
50* (40) vs South Africa – Durban, T20 World Cup 2007
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It was the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007, India were locking horns in a must-win or a ‘do-or-die’ game against South Africa to keep hopes alive in the tournament. It was only the second T20I of Rohit Sharma’s international career and in T20 World Cup career as well.
When India were struggling after losing 4 wickets at the score of 61 runs in 10.3 overs, Rohit Sharma came at ‘number-5’ to rescue his side and he lived up to the expectations of the team, scoring unbeaten and crucial 50 runs off 40 balls, with 7 fours and 2 sixes, alongside skipper MS Dhoni who scored 45 runs off 33 balls, hitting 4 fours and a six. Rohit and Dhoni also stitched an all-important partnership of 85 runs for the fifth wicket to help India post a total of 153 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in 20 overs.
Later, the men in blue won this match by 37 after restricting the Proteas to the score of 116 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the entire 20 overs. Rohit Sharma also won the ‘Player of the Match award for his match-defining knock in India’s favour.
Also Read: Top 5 Most Expensive Assets Owned by Indian Captain Rohit Sharma