Rohit Sharma becomes leading run-getter in T20Is, smashes 100 sixes

Rohit Sharma scaled the summit of Twenty20 Internationals and created a special century as he became the leading run-getter in the shortest format, going past Martin Guptill’s tally of 2272 runs. Rohit became the leading run-getter in style when he launched Ish Sodhi into the stands at long on to go past Guptill's tally. The Indian skipper also hit two sixes during the knock, making him only the third player after Guptill and Chris Gayle to hit 100 sixes in Twenty20 Internationals. Both Gayle and Guptill have 103 sixes. The latest record by Rohit continues his magnificent run in a format where he has broken several records at the top. Rohit entered the sixes centurion club in grand style. He went to 99 sixes when he blasted pacer Lockie Ferguson into the second tier at deep midwicket. The right-hander notched up his 100^th six when he flicked Scott Kugglejin to the fine leg fence.

Rohit continued to march on as he blasted two sixes off Sodhi and Santner to reach his 16th fifty off 28 balls. With that, he also became the batsman with the most fifty-plus scores in this format, going past Virat Kohli's mark in this format.

Rohit is the first and only batsman to hit four centuries in the shortest format, with New Zealand’s Colin Munro hitting three centuries. The right-hander has been in prime form in the shortest format in the last couple of years. His first century was 106 against South Africa in Dharamsala in 2016 but India lost a high-scoring encounter. After a gap of two years, Rohit responded with a brutal 35-ball hundred against Sri Lanka in Indore. The knock was the joint-fastest ton by a batsman in the format, equaling David Miller’s mark which he set against Bangladesh.

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The year 2018 witnessed some special moments for Rohit as he hit two centuries in the year. His first knock came against England in Bristol and it was his first century overseas. His 56-ball knock helped India win the Twenty20 series in England and he ended the year in style by blasting 111 in the Lucknow Twenty20 International against West Indies as India whitewashed the two-time World T20 champions 3-0.

The Indian skipper would be looking to break India’s jinx of never having won a Twenty20 International in New Zealand. India has a poor record in this format only against New Zealand, winning two and losing six encounters. In their last series in 2009, India lost the two-game series by close margins as MS Dhoni’s side tasted defeat in the format on a tour which they won an ODI series for the first time and a Test match and series in New Zealand after 41 years.

HIGHLIGHTS

Rohit Sharma is the third player to hit 100 sixes in this format.

Chris Gayle and mMartin Guptill are the others.

Rohit went past Guptill's mark to become the leading run-getter in T20Is.