Stats: Rohit Sharma completes 6000 runs as an opener in ODI cricket

Once he was promoted to face the new ball, it brought about a new start to Rohit Sharma’s international career as he has achieved amazing consistency. After about 6 years from then, he is challenging to break quite a few major records with some already under his belt. It won’t be an overstatement to say that Rohit is currently the 2nd best batsman in the limited-overs cricket behind his skipper Virat Kohli. The ICC rankings also state the same as India’s limited-overs captain and vice-captain occupy the first two spots in the ODI batting rankings.

Rohit’s maiden stint as an ODI opener came during the South Africa series in 2011 ahead of the World Cup at home. An injury to Sachin Tendulkar gave him that opportunity and he failed to make most of it. His second major opportunity and probably the last lease of life was handed to him in 2013 after a disastrous ODI series in Sri Lanka where he was dismissed in single digits in all five innings. Rohit was trusted as the opener for the Champions Trophy held in England that year and there was no looking back for the Mumbaikar.

During the series-decider against Australia in Delhi, Rohit made a decent start while his opening partner Shikhar Dhawan and Kohli got out edging one to the keeper. When on 13, the Mumbaikar completed 6000 runs in ODI cricket while opening the innings. He thus became only the 4th Indian and the 17th player to score 6000 ODI runs as an opener. Rohit got to this milestone in 121 innings; the fewest any player took to get there.

He thus broke the record which was on Hashim Amla‘s name at 123 innings. The South African opener is fastest to many milestones in overall records. He is quickest to reach 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000 and 7000 ODI runs. Prior to Rohit and Amla, the fastest to 6000 ODI runs record was held by Sachin Tendulkar in 133 innings. His opening partner Sourav Ganguly stands next to him as he completed 6000 ODI runs as an opener in 143 innings.

Fastest to 6000 runs as an opener in ODI cricket:

(Stats as on March 13, 2019)

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