Fastest T20I Century, Double Hundred: Rohit Sharma’s Purple Patch

Rohit Sharma in action during the second T20 against Sri Lanka.

(Photo Courtesy: BCCI)

Rohit Sharma played a blistering innings of 118 runs off 43 balls in the second T20 against Sri Lanka in Indore on Friday. The Mumbai batsman also scored the fastest century in T20 internationals.

Sharma, who scored a century off 35 balls, equaled South Africa’s David Miller’s record. Miller had scored the century against Bangladesh in October this year.

The opener also recorded the highest individual score by an Indian in T20 internationals.

Rohit’s century propelled India to their highest-ever T20 international score – 254/3. It is also the joint second-highest T20 international total ever. They equaled Sri Lanka’s record of 260/6, which was scored against Kenya in 2007.

Here’s a look at the purple patch Rohit Sharma has been going through since October this year.

1. 118 vs Sri Lanka – 2nd T20

Rohit Sharma raises his bat after scoring a century.(Photo: BCCI)

Rohit Sharma scored his second T20 international century against Sri Lanka. His last T20I hundred was against South Africa in October 2015.

Rohit Sharma smashed 12 boundaries and 10 sixes in his 43-ball-innings. His strike-rate during the innings was a whopping 274.42.

2. 208* vs Sri Lanka – 2nd ODI

India were bundled out for 112 runs in the first ODI and were thrashed by 7 wickets at the hands of Sri Lanka. The Men in Blue needed someone to pull up the spirits in the Indian dressing room, and it was none other than Sharma.

Rohit Sharma cracked 13 boundaries and 12 sixes en route his third double century in ODIs. He was the only man to score two double centuries in ODIs before this match.

India went on to win the match by 141 runs.

3. 102* vs Sri Lanka – 2nd Test

Rohit Sharma made a comeback to the Test eleven with a brilliant century against Sri Lanka in the second Test in Nagpur. The Mumbai batsman didn’t play a Test match for over a year, before playing an innings of 102* off 160 balls.

Rohit Sharma struck 8 boundaries and a six during his innings.

India won the Test by an innings and 239 runs.

4. 147 vs New Zealand – 3rd ODI

Rohit Sharma celebrates a century.(Photo: BCCI)

A series-decider, and it was Rohit Sharma who stepped up once again. New Zealand had won the first game of the series by 6 wickets and then India struck back with a six-wicket win in the second ODI.

Enter third ODI and Rohit Sharma goes ballistic. The hitman smacked 18 boundaries and two sixes in his innings of 147 runs off 138 balls.

Rohit’s innings propelled India to a score of 337/6.

India eventually won the match by 6 runs.

5. 125 vs Australia – 5th ODI

Rohit Sharma plays a shot on the leg-side.(Photo: BCCI)

India needed to end the five-match series on a high and Rohit Sharma ensured that. While opening the batting, India needed to chase down a meager total of 242/9.

Rohit and Rahane gave a fantastic start, stringing a partnership of 124 runs in 22.3 overs.

Rohit, who hit 11 boundaries and 5 sixes, scored 125 off 109 balls.

India went on to win the match by 7 wickets.

(Breathe In, Breathe Out: Are you finding it tough to breathe polluted air? Join hands with FIT in partnership with #MyRightToBreathe to find a solution to pollution. Send in your suggestions to [e-mail] or WhatsApp @ [phone])