Watch: Rohit Sharma smashes a fluent half-century

Rohit Sharma had said India is ready to take on Australia in the limited-overs series which gets underway on Monday in Perth. Rohit, who has been in brilliant form in limited-overs cricket and stood out with a hundred in the tri-series that preceded the World Cup last year, said India were ready for the challenges that lay ahead. If Australia decided to fire, team India would respond with all their guns blazing. “It will be a case of fighting fire with fire,” Rohit had told bcci.tv.

The elegant Mumbaikar means business and the manner in which he hammered a fluent fifty against Western Australia XI in a tour game today, the Aussies would be well advised to watch out for the Indian opener. Rohit is no stranger to Australian ways. He toured here first as a 21-year-old and made an immediate impression with a fluent 66, batting alongside Sachin Tendulkar in an important final in the Commonwealth Bank Series. India went on to win the tournament with Rohit being lauded for his efforts.

He hit a crunching cover drive for four and lofted one up and over long-on about 10 rows back in the 8th over to get going. Before this over he had faced 22 balls and scored only 8 with the help of a four. He settled down after this and rotated the strike finding an able partner in Rahane.

The 17th over witnessed two more elegant boundaries. He got down on one knee and beautifully lofted one over mid-off while the other was an imperious pull shot in front of square. In the next over he saw some flight and his eyes lit up. He went through with the slog sweep over the wide long-on boundary and got the desired result. The spinner was absolutely spanked to all parts of the ground as Rohit didn’t let him settle. He was eventually dismissed for an entertaining 67 of 82 balls that featured 6 fours and 3 sixes.

Watch: Rohit Sharma smashes a fluent half-century:

It took a fabulous effort to dismiss Rohit today – Watch: D’Arcy’s acrobatic catch to dismiss Rohit Sharma