IND vs NZ Live: Rohit Sharma ODI Opener – Exactly 10 years ago on this day on January 24, 2013, Rohit Sharma first time opened for India in ODIs. It was now or never moment for the Mumbai batter as he messed up chances in the middle order in white ball cricket. Ten years later, Rohit Sharma has gone on to become one of the best openers and is the only batter to score three ODI double centuries. The India skipper is currently out of form and has not scored a century for the last three years, but on his 10th anniversary as ODI opener, Rohit will fancy breaking the century drought against New Zealand. Follow IND vs NZ Live Updates with InsideSport.IN.
IND vs NZ LIVE: Very SPECIAL DAY for Rohit Sharma, Indian captain completes 10 years in INTERNATIONAL CRICKET as ODI OPENER, Check how one decision changed his entire career?
IND vs NZ Live: Whose decision was to push Rohit Sharma as an opener in ODI cricket? – It was MS Dhoni’s decision to try Rohit Sharma at the top in ODIs after the batter failed to justify his talent on a consistent basis playing in the middle order. The right-hand batter had scored only two hundreds against Zimbabwe in 70-odd matches and was even dropped from the squad for the 50-over World Cup in 2011. However, Dhoni had seen some spark in Rohit Sharma and promoted him up as an opener in 2013.
Rohit grabbed his chances with both hands and shut the critics’ mouths by plundering runs against top teams. In 240 matches, Rohit has scored 9681 runs at an average of 48.65.
IND vs NZ Live: Rahul Dravid heaps praise on Rohit Sharma, says the Mumbai batter is a great servant of the game – India coach Rahul Dravid congratulated Rohit for completing 10 years as an opener in international cricket and called him a true servant of the game.
“He’s been a phenomenal cricketer. He obviously started off as this really precocious talent, and I remember seeing him for the first time when he was 17 or 18. He just came out of under-19s, and you could see that you’re looking at something slightly different here. And he has gone on to prove that. You look at a lot of kids who look different at 19, but not all of them go on to actually achieve their potential.
“What Rohit has done over the last 15 years, he’s been a great servant for Indian cricket. The turning point was when 10 years ago, he got the opportunity to finally open, and really, his hallmark has been obviously his performances in ICC tournaments and his ability to score big runs. Someone who has got three double hundreds in this format, it’s an absolutely phenomenal achievement.”
IND vs NZ Live: Rohit Sharma’s record as an opener
- Only batter to score three double hundreds. Holds the record for the highest score in ODIs 264.
- Average of 48.65 second best ever for a opening batter. Has scored 27 hundred as an opener, second most after Sachin Tendulkar.
- Only batter to score five World Cup hundreds in one edition of the 50-over World Cup.
- When Rohit scores hundreds India wins 70% of the time, which is the most for the opener.
IND vs NZ LIVE: Very SPECIAL DAY for Rohit Sharma, Indian captain completes 10 years in INTERNATIONAL CRICKET as ODI OPENER, Check how one decision changed his entire career?
