HITMAN is BACK! Rohit Sharma Stamped his Comeback with a TON in the Cuttack ODI
Rohit Sharma, the Indian skipper, has finally broken his 16-innings drought in style! If there's one batter in modern cricket who can fearlessly step down against Mark Wood and launch him into the stands, it’s Rohit Sharma!
A big but impactful innings from Rohit Sharma was due and this innings featuring a HUNDRED from the dynamic skipper has stamped his true arrival.
Rohit Sharma's Stylish Innings
Sharma got off the mark with a single on the third ball of the opening over. However, he didn’t take long to shift gears. In the second over, he unleashed his intent with a crisp boundary followed by a towering six, signaling his intent for a big innings. His momentum only grew stronger as he dispatched Saqib Mehmood for two massive sixes before play was briefly halted due to floodlight issues.
The short break did little to disrupt Sharma’s rhythm. As soon as play resumed, he launched a blistering six off Mark Wood’s 150 km/h thunderbolt. Racing to 43 off just 27 deliveries, he capitalized on Adil Rashid’s over, striking back-to-back fours to bring up his half-century in under 30 balls. His fifty, laced with four sixes and two fours, came at an impressive strike rate of 174.
This knock ended his ten-innings drought without a fifty, marking his third-fastest ODI half-century. But Sharma wasn’t done yet. With a blend of aggression and calculated stroke play, he looked determined to push even further.
He cautiously added the next 30 runs off 25 balls, adjusting his approach as the powerplay ended and two wickets tumbled at the other end. Maintaining his composure, he focused on strike rotation, building a steady partnership with Shreyas Iyer.
The white ball monster was in his true colors today and while playing a safe game in his 80s, he suddenly smoked a 145Kmph ball for a ride 80 meters away! His clear-cut mindset and determined intent were with his every stroke. After a long patience, he stepped up and smacked a six the Adil Rashid to reach his 100 in style.
He smashed three more boundaries in the next five balls he faced. He was at 119 when Liam Livingstone got the ball in his hands and in attempt to smack another six, he mishit a loopy and Adil Rashid didn't make any mistake to grab it.
Before that, England won the toss and asked India to bowl first. Again, a good Partnership at the top helped England win the powerplay battle, with 75 runs in the first 10 overs without losing a wicket. Root and Duckett played in good rhythm, the middle order supported well and England finally breached the 300-run mark.
Rohit Sharma's Innings Analysis
| Runs Scored | 119 |
| Balls Played | 90 |
| Strike Rate | 132.20 |
| 6s | 7 |
| 4s | 12 |
| Balls for the First 50 Runs | 30 |
| Balls for the next 50 Runs | 46 |
| Dismissed by | b Liam Livingstone c Rashid |
More to come...