(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] After New Zealand recorded their highest total against India in ODI World Cup history, scoring 273 runs in 50 overs, India captain Rohit Sharma set a new record on Sunday during the 21st match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in Dharamsala.
Rohit became the first Indian batter to hit 50 or more ODI sixes in a single calendar year. He is only the third overall player to achieve this feat, following AB de Villiers, who hit 58 sixes in 2015, and Chris Gayle, who hit 56 maximums in 2019.
Furthermore, the Indian skipper also surpassed de Villiers’s tally of 37 sixes as ‘Hitman’ Rohit now has smashed 40 sixes in 22 innings in ODI World Cup history. With this, he secured the second spot on the list of most sixes in ODI World Cups, after Chris Gayle, who hit 49 sixes in 34 innings in the tournament.
While chasing 274 against the Black Caps, Rohit also surpassed Sri Lankan batter Kusal Mendis’ tally of 14 sixes accumulated in the World Cup 2023. Rohit now has hit 17 sixes in the ongoing edition of the competition and is leading the charts. Additionally, he became the first player to score 300 runs in the World Cup 2023.
However, he could not reach his 54th ODI fifty as he got out after scoring 46 runs, chasing a wide delivery that took the inside edge off his bat to shatter the stumps.
Nonetheless, India won the match by four wickets as Kohli again bossed the run-chase. With this victory, India moved to the top of the points table.