World Cup 2019: Virender Sehwag praises Rohit, Rahul for tons against Lanka

Rohit Sharma’s phenomenal run at the cricket World Cup continued on Saturday after he slammed his fifth ton of the tournament to make a number of world records yet again. The opening batsman slammed 103 off 94 balls against a listless Sri Lanka at Headingley, Leeds, in India’s final league match of the 2019 edition of the world championship to pick his fourth man of the match award.

This was his third consecutive hundred after the tons against England and Bangladesh and also the fifth in the one edition and the sixth overall. He thus broke the record of former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara’s record of four centuries in one World Cup and also equalled compatriot Sachin Tendulkar’s record of six World Cup hundreds.

Rohit was at his sublime best against the Lankans while chasing a target of 265 after the islanders won the toss and scored 264 for 7 in 50 overs riding Angelo Mathews’ 113 off 128 balls. He put up 189 runs for the first wicket with KL Rahul who also scored a hundred (111), his maiden at the cricket World Cup. India won the game by 7 wickets with 39 balls to spare and took their points tally to 15.

Rohit is the highest run-getter with 647 runs this World Cup

Former India opener Virender Sehwag was all praise for Rohit for his incredible form with the bat in this World Cup. The man has now scored 647 runs in the tournament and needs just 27 to beat Tendulkar’s record of scoring the most number of runs in a single World Cup (673 in the 2003 edition). He also has 27 ODI hundreds now, 14 less than captain Virat Kohli’s 41.

Sehwag also saluted Rahul in his tweet for his hundred on Saturday and said Team India had deserved the win. However, the 40-year-old also asked who would be India’s opponents in the semi-final since the top two occupants were not decided till the results of the Australia-South Africa game, the final in the league stage of this World Cup, was known.

“Semi Finals kiske saath lag raha hain (who do we think will play in the semi-finals)?” he asked.

Unbelievable consistency from Rohit Sharma, World Cup 100’s running in him like haemoglobin in our bloods. A good 100 from KL Rahul as well and a well deserved win for Team India. Semi Finals kiske saath lag raha hai ? #IndvSL pic.twitter.com/ehp5VZXWWF

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) July 6, 2019

The Proteas registered a 10-run victory against Kangaroos at the Old Trafford after amassing a belligerent 325/6. Australia was folded for 315 runs on Saturday’s final league match. With this result, India sealed top spot and the Men in Blue will take on New Zealand in the first semifinal match on Tuesday while Australia will play hosts England on Thursday.