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Rohit Sharma, the “Hitman,” is a name that has changed one-day cricket jargon on the position of opener. It was his extraordinary journey from a middle order batsman to one of the best openers in ODI cricket that changed Indian cricket fundamentally. Let us study Rohit Sharma’s contribution to this change as an opener and his outstanding performances as well.
Transition into Opening
It was in 2013 when Rohit Sharma decided to bat as an opening partner for India, thereby transforming not only his own career but also Indian Cricket. Starting as a number five or six batsman, Sharma struggled with form. Nevertheless, by moving up the order he could exploit power plays, play his natural game and orchestrate innings.
Implications on Indian Cricket
In terms of opening partnership, Rohit Sharma brought some reliability and explosiveness into India’s batting side. He often set the tone of the innings very quickly with big scores which gave India advantage over their opponents early in matches. The opening pair of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit has been among the most successful ones ever in ODIs giving India solid starts.
Key Performances
When you consider his performance as an opener it is safe to say that Rohit Sharma has been nothing short of sensational. Below are some of them:
209 vs Australia at Bengaluru (Bengaluru 2013)
His first double hundred in One Day Internationals came against Australia in 2013 when he scored 209 runs off 158 balls with twelve fours and sixteen sixes helping India score huge runs while registering an unforgettable victory.
264 vs Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens (Kolkata 2014)
Rohit’s unbeaten knock of 264 against Sri Lanka in Kolkata during November last year is still unsurpassed individual score made by any player internationally; these runs were scored through aggressive boundaries holding back aggression.
208* vs Sri Lanka at Mohali (Mohali 2017)
Against Sri Lanka, Rohit hit an unbeaten 208 which demonstrated his ability to keep the innings intact and switch gears when needed.
140 vs Pakistan at Manchester (Manchester 2019)
During the ICC Cricket World Cup in England in June, he played a brilliant knock of 140 runs against arch-rivals Pakistan in Manchester.
| Runs | Opponent | Venue | Year | Match Impact |
| 209 | Australia | Bengaluru | 2013 | First double century, match-winning knock |
| 264 | Sri Lanka | Eden Gardens | 2014 | Highest individual ODI score |
| 208* | Sri Lanka | Mohali | 2017 | Unbeaten double century |
| 140 | Pakistan | Manchester | 2019 | Dominant World Cup innings |
Consistency and Records
Rohit Sharma has multiple records that show how consistently he holds the position of ODI opener. He is statistically the most prolific double centurion with three hundreds and over 9,000 runs as an opening batsman. His penchant for scoring big centuries has often given India positions from where they can win matches.
Leadership and Influence
Beyond his batting, Rohit’s leadership on and off the field has been instrumental. He’s one of those players who knows how to lead their team by example and this is what happened last season in IPL when Mumbai Indians won their fifth title under his guidance making him one of India’s smartest skippers ever; thus showing that he had it all for both tactics as well as motivation towards teammates. In addition, he helped younger players ease into international cricket.
Rohit Sharma’s transformation from middle order batsman to becoming an ODI opener has changed Indian cricket forever. Some of these achievements have been through record-breaking performances while others have come out due to consistency and leadership qualities that could inspire generations to come forward. At Play247 we appreciate sporting icons like Rohit Sharma who made it big in cricketing circles. Whether you are following live matches or trying your luck in Play247 Sports betting, there is something special about these kinds of players such as Rohit Sharma that gives them lasting memories. With a Play247 ID you can stay connected while placing bets on sports events or simply enjoy some memorable moments from the career of Mr. Sharma.
Rohit Sharma’s transformation from a middle-order batsman to the highest-scoring ODI opener is an evidence of his skill and commitment. His contributions to Indian cricket have been great, and his legacy grows. At Play247, we appreciate such exceptional feats for their power of inspiration. Stay connected with Play247 to marvel at the fantastic tale of Rohit Sharma and even experience cricket excitement itself.