Rohit Sharma is one of the best openers in the One-day international format in modern day cricket. He made his One day international against Ireland on June 23rd 2007 and batted in the middle order.
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Since promoted at the opening slot during the 2013 Champions Trophy edition, he has changed to an explosive batsman with 3 double centuries to his name. In his ODI career so far, Rohit Sharma has 12 125 + scores, 6 150 + scores, 3 200 scores and 250+ once.
During the first One day international against West Indies at Guwahati, Rohit Sharma surpassed Sachin Tendulkar record of most 150 plus scores in ODI cricket. His ability to play big shots and put the bowlers under pressure makes him one of the dangerous openers in ODI cricket at present moment.
10 unique Rohit Sharma stats that will leave you baffled
Here are the 5 reasons why Rohit Sharma is the best ODI opener in modern day cricket:
- Take time to build innings
Rohit Sharma takes time to settle his innings and judge the pace bounce of the pitch and also the bowlers. If the conditions are favourable for bowlers, he takes singles and then hits the ball on merit.
Rohit Sharma – The only man to score 3 double centuries in ODI cricket
While chasing big totals, Rohit Sharma is one the dangerous batsman in ODI cricket. While the other batsman is going great guns, Sharma takes time to build on a huge total. This is the big quality that Rohit Sharma has which separates from the rest at the present moment.
- Play long and big innings for India
The right-handed Indian batsman is the only batsman to score 3 double centuries in One-day international format. His first double century came against Australia at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore on 2nd November 2013. Overall he has played so far 189 matches and scored a total of 7217 runs with an average of 47.16. He has hit 20 centuries and 36 half centuries so far in his ODI career.
He has the highest score in One day international of 264 not out against Sri Lanka on 13th November 2014. Since 2013, he has opened the innings for 104 innings and scored a total of 5250 runs with an average of 57.69.
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Rohit Sharma has the ability to score at a quick pace and play long innings to help team India win matches with his superb batting. In the recently 1st One day international against West Indies, the dashing right-handed batsman remained not out on 152 and helped team India chase down 322 with ease. He has 20 centuries to his name while 18 have come while opening the innings.
- Ability to accelerate and hit big sixes
Rohit Sharma is known to be great accelerating technique and has the ability to hit big sixes. Since the 2015 World Cup, Sharma has scored 2997 runs from 54 matches since April 1st April. He will become the most successful opener if he scores 3 runs during the rest of 4 One day internationals against West Indies.
The other openers who have most runs since 2015 World Cup are Jason Roy with 2532 runs, Quinton de Kock with 2442 runs, Dhawan with 2320 runs and David Warner 2296 runs. After reaching the century, Rohit Sharma just smashes the opposition bowlers to all parts of the ground and just demoralizes them with his attacking stroke play. The field restrictions also help the batsman to play big strokes which Rohit Sharma makes use of it.
VIDEO: Rohit Sharma is in beast mode in his latest fitness video
Rohit Sharma has the record of hitting most sixes with 16 in an innings against Australia during his 209 runs knock off 158 balls knock in 2013. In the year 2018, Rohit Sharma has hit so far 31 sixes with Virat Kohli being the next best with 8.
Rohit Sharma is the third Indian with the most number of sixes in ODI cricket. At the present moment, the dashing right-handed opener has 194 sixes just 2 behind of great Sachin Tendulkar.
- Variety of strokes
Rohit Sharma has a variety of strokes to choose from that can disturb the line and length of the bowlers. On bouncy pitches like Australia, Sharma scored 171* not out against Australia at Perth in 2016 ODI series.
He plays the cut and pull shots well which makes the life tough for the opposition bowlers. After settling in, Rohit Sharma attacks the bowlers with innovative strokes like sweeps and other innovative strokes. The right-handed batsman plays the pacers and spin bowlers at ease which makes the life of another batsman at another hand very easy.
- Great form since the 2017 Champions Trophy
Since the 2017 Champions Trophy held in England, Rohit Sharma has scored centuries in every One-day international series. He scored 123* against Bangladesh in semi-finals of Champions Trophy 2017, 124* and 104 in the One day international series against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka.
He made 125 against Australia in home ODI match at Nagpur, 147 against New Zealand at Kanpur in 2017, 208* against Sri Lanka, 115 against South Africa in South Africa during 2018 ODI series, 137 against England in ODI Series in England in 2018, 101* against Pakistan during the 2018 Asia Cup and finally 152* against West Indies.
With the World Cup 2019 coming up, if he continues his superb form in that tournament, then India will have great chances of winning the title.