The third One Day International against West Indies proved to be a bittersweet affair for Rohit Sharma. Despite displaying phenomenal batting prowess and dictating terms to the opposition bowlers, the seasoned Indian opener walked off the pitch with a tinge of regret. Playing in Chandigarh, he narrowly missed out on a well-deserved century, falling just eight runs short. He amassed 92 runs from 85 deliveries, laced with 10 elegant boundaries and 3 towering sixes, entertaining the crowd with his trademark strokeplay.
Yet, amidst the personal disappointment of missing a three-figure mark, a historic milestone was achieved. During the course of this brilliant 92-run knock, Rohit became the fastest opening batsman in ODI history to cross the 10,000-run threshold. In doing so, he officially shattered a legendary record held by the “Little Master” Sachin Tendulkar for over two decades.
Achieving this monumental feat required just 202 matches for Rohit. In comparison, Sachin Tendulkar had taken 214 matches to reach the exact same milestone as an opener. This means Rohit accomplished the milestone 12 matches faster than his legendary compatriot, etching his name deeper into the annals of cricket history. Furthermore, he joined an exclusive club, becoming only the fourth batsman overall to score 10,000 ODI runs primarily as an opener.
Before Rohit’s historic achievement, the elite list featured only Sachin Tendulkar, West Indian powerhouse Chris Gayle, and Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya. The record for the highest number of runs as an opener in One Day Internationals still belongs firmly to Sachin Tendulkar, who amassed 15,310 runs across 340 innings. Sanath Jayasuriya sits behind him with 12,740 runs in 383 innings, followed by Chris Gayle with 10,179 runs in 274 innings.
Saturday’s fixture was rich in team action as well. Propelled by Rohit’s 92 and a magnificent, unbeaten 129 off 87 balls from KL Rahul, India posted a formidable total of 351 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. It looked like a match-winning score, leaving the Indian camp confident of a series clean sweep.
However, West Indies had other ideas and scripted an unforgettable comeback. Chasing a target exceeding 350, West Indian captain Shai Hope unleashed a masterclass in batting under pressure. He struck an awe-inspiring, unbeaten 162 from 143 deliveries, featuring 17 fours and 3 sixes. Shai Hope’s relentless aggression guided the visitors to a sensational five-wicket victory with 10 balls to spare. This triumph marked the highest successful run chase for West Indies in ODI history when targeting scores above 350, surpassing their previous record of chasing 327 against Ireland in 2019. While Rohit celebrated a monumental personal milestone, the sensational Caribbean chase ultimately overshadowed the Indian celebrations.