New Zealand vs India T20I series: Rohit Sharma on the verge of an exceptional record
The first match of the three-match T20 series between India and New Zealand was played in Wellington today. Rohit Sharma led the side in the absence of regular captain. New Zealand, batting first, were off to a fantastic start with 85 for no loss in 8 overs. Blackcaps ended with 219 runs with TL Seifert scoring the most (84) runs for them.
In reply, Rohit Sharma could not contribute much and got out in the third over after scoring just one run to Tim Southee. India will be looking to win the first T20 series in New Zealand for the first time in history. Rohit Sharma, who is heading the team's command, will have the chance in the remaining two matches to make his record of the highest runs in International T20 cricket.
Opener Rohit Sharma is third in the list of batsmen with the most runs in International T20 cricket with 2238 runs. New Zealand's Martin Guptill is at the top of the list with 2272 runs in 76 matches at an average of 33.91. Shoaib Malik of Pakistan is in second place with 2245 runs in 110 matches at an average of 30.75.
Rohit needs 35 runs to get to the top in the list of top run-getters in International Twenty20 cricket. He made his T20 debut on September 19, 2007, in Durban against South Africa. He has so far scored 2238 runs in 91 matches at an average of 32.43. He also has 4 centuries and 15 fifties in T20Is. Rohit is the only batsman in the world to score 4 international T20 centuries.
It would not have been easy for Rohit to achieve this record, had Guptill been part of this series. But due to a back injury, the New Zealand opener is not playing in this series. This made Rohit's work a little easy. Rohit has two more matches in this series, and the form he is in, he will easily get to this record.
in the end, let's look at the top five scorers in T20I cricket
2272 runs - Martin Guptill (New Zealand)
2245 runs - Shoaib Malik (Pakistan)
2238 runs - Rohit Sharma (India)
2167 runs - Virat Kohli (India)
2140 runs - Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)