In a match that one cannot forget, Rohit Sharma played an innings he will not forget. Pitted against the Australians in a 7-match ODI series on home ground, India set out to better their bilateral record against the team from Down Under.
On 2 Nov 2013, Rohit Sharma became only the third Indian batsman after Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag to score a double hundred. With the series evenly poised at 2-2, Rohit Sharma couldn’t have chosen a better time and place to deliver his best – his maiden double century. As we watched this up-and-coming Indian batsman light up the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, as we watched the ball fly 360 degrees around the park, we couldn’t help but wonder if this was a cricketer or magician at work. We had witnessed the innings of a lifetime against one of the most profound teams in World Cricket.
In an innings of 209 runs off 158 balls, Rohit Sharma blasted 16 sixes around the park – a new World Record at the time – that stands to date. His partner in crime for most part of the match was the ever-so-reliable MS Dhoni who scored 62 off 38 balls. Dhoni got run out trying to steal a second off the very last ball of the match. He could have easily stayed not out and bettered his batting average. But such is the commitment of the ‘then captain’ even in an abnormally high-scoring match. And such is his commitment even today. The Indian innings finally ended at 383/6 (could have been 384). Australia in response bundled out for 326 in 45.1 Overs. And India happily took the series win 3-2.
This match was like watching the Diwali of Cricket during the festival of Diwali – and listening to the loudest firecrackers at the cricket ground. Sharma earnestly earned the coveted Man of the Match and Man of the Series awards. Coined the ‘Hitman’ from thereon, this knock from Rohit Sharma will be long remembered and cherished. But never forget the sacrificial run out of MS Dhoni.
– Varun Kumar | SpreadSports
