Flashback: Rohit Sharma's high-five at the 2019 World Cup
Really really disappointed of not being the part of the WC squad..I need to move on frm here..but honestly it was a big setback..any views!
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) January 31, 2011
What do you do when you have a heart-break? You work hard. You work harder towards your dream. Rohit, after missing out on the 2011 World Cup berth, made it count when he got to represent India next with a hundred in the Caribbean. And he never looked back.
To celebrate Rohit’s record-breaking journey, we conducted a poll on Twitter asking fans about their favourite Hitman ton.
His appetite for big runs kept growing as he transitioned himself from a middle-order crisis man to a swashbuckling opener in 2013. At the 2015 World Cup, a blistering hundred in the quarter-finals against neighbours Bangladesh was his highlight from the campaign but little did he know what was going to happen in the next edition of the World Cup.
4 years and 16,999 kms. away from MCG in Southampton, Rohit and India’s 2019 World Cup journey began. India may have fallen short but Rohit kept his promise. A staggering aggregate of 648 runs with an outstanding average of 81 and to top that, a record-breaking five centuries in a single World Cup edition.
#OnThisDay a year ago, Hitman scored his fifth #CWC19 ton!
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) July 6, 2020
Tell us which one is your favourite 👇#OneFamily @ImRo45 pic.twitter.com/9qjhmjAnUi
1) 140 (113) vs Pakistan
With a staggering 93% votes, Rohit's knock against Pakistan was a fan favourite.
An India vs Pakistan encounter is always a high-intensity game especially in a tournament as big as the World Cup. Rohit looked quite comfortable from the start as he easily overcame the new ball threat from Hasan Ali before launching himself against the other bowlers.
He reached his fifty with a six and a boundary off Shadab Khan as he looked at comfort with the bat. Continuing to inflict runs at a marvellous pace, Rohit registered his second ton of the tournament from just 85 balls. Rohit made it count and ended with a fine 140 to his name.
Vande Mataram 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/vMsbq8BgjO
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) June 16, 2019
2) 122* (144) vs South Africa
India began their World Cup campaign against the Proteas at Southampton. In what could have been a tricky total to chase looking at the conditions, the Men in Blue had lost Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli early into the innings. Rohit took the responsibility in the middle and ensured he stayed at the crease till the end.
After resisting a fiery Kagiso Rabada for the first few overs, Rohit smashed him for a six and two boundaries to set the tone of his innings. He waited patiently for the bowlers to bowl in his zone so that he could whack them apart. The result of which was an unbeaten century and a comfortable run-chase for India.
What a start to #CWC19 for India! A brilliant Rohit Sharma carries his bat to lead a six-wicket win!
— ICC (@ICC) June 5, 2019
South Africa slip to their third straight loss in the tournament. Is there a way back for them from here? #SAvIND SCORECARD 🔽 https://t.co/BRFVfISGgy pic.twitter.com/c4FNsSSF8S
3) 102 (109) vs England
India were unbeaten in the tournament as they came face-to-face against the hosts England who posted a mammoth total of 337/7 on board. While KL Rahul got out early, Rohit continued to display his valour as he got off to a fine start. The opener even took Ben Stokes to cleaners with three consecutive boundaries.
His supremacy as the top run-getter was visible as he completed his third ton in the World Cup. He looked to accelerate as the run-rate crept above 10 but the England bowlers were successful in getting the better of him after a hard-fought century.
Top man 🔥
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 30, 2019
Rohit Sharma brings up his 25th ODI ton off 106 deliveries 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/GqGAZ3iR07
4) 104 (92) vs Bangladesh
At this point, Rohit had already made up his mind to make this World Cup his hunting ground. Pitted against a team who had been at the receiving end of Hitman's two sensational tons in their previous knockout encounters - the 2015 World Cup quarterfinals and 2017 Champions Trophy semi-finals.
Rohit didn't disappoint again as he raced to yet another sumptuous hundred inside 30 overs. He slammed five sixes and seven boundaries before losing his wicket but the damage was already done. India won by 28 runs and Rohit had another Man of the Match award in his kitty.
💯 Rohit Sharma, you genius.
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 2, 2019
Back to back centuries for @ImRo45 and fourth in #CWC19, 26th overall in ODIs 👏👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/ADD8j8wDQz
5) 103 (94) vs Sri Lanka
It was India's last game before the knockouts with a victory helping them finish at the top of the points table. Sri Lanka put up a fighting total of 264/7 but Rohit was in phenomenal form and didn't let the pressure seep in against an inexperienced bowling attack. Both him and Rahul went on to register hundreds as they combined for a 189-run partnership for the first wicket.
For the Indian vice-captain, it was a record-breaking ton as he equalled Sachin Tendulkar's milestone of hitting six centuries in World Cup cricket. He also averages the highest for any cricketer at World Cups, i.e. 65.20 (for batsmen with more than 500 runs).
A stunning third 💯 in a row for Rohit Sharma and his fifth of #CWC19 👏
— ICC (@ICC) July 6, 2019
A wonderful achievement for the Indian opener!#TeamIndia | #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/BXYOoVek77
With the ICC World Test Championship and a couple of T20 World Cups in sight, Rohit will have his priorities set before he plans for the next 50-over World Cup.
