Rohit Sharma needs 2 centuries to become 3rd Indian to achieve a huge landmark
Team India captain Rohit Sharma is all set to lead India in a two-match Test series against Bangladesh, which begins with the first Test at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday, September 19. In their previous assignment, India went 2-0 down to Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series. Thus, they will be keen to get back to winning ways against Bangladesh, who will be on a high after beating Pakistan in Pakistan recently.
After the Test series against Bangladesh, Rohit will lead India in a three-match home series against New Zealand. The Test side will then play five matches in Australia from November 22 to January 7. Rohit will look to lead from the front in these challenging assignments. During these matches, he can also reach some significant landmarks.
The Indian Test and ODI captain needs two centuries to become the third Indian batter to notch up 50 or more international hundreds. As of now, he has 48 tons from 483 international matches (509 innings). The right-handed batter has notched up 12 tons in Tests, 31 in ODIs, and five in T20Is. Among Indians, only Sachin Tendulkar (100) and Virat Kohli (80) have scored more international tons.
Overall, apart from Tendulkar and Kohli, Ricky Ponting (71), Kumar Sangakkara (63), Jacques Kallis (62), Hashim Amla (55), Mahela Jayawardene (54), Brian Lara (53), Joe Root (50) and David Warner (49) are above Rohit on the list of batters with most international hundreds. Former India head coach Rahul Dravid ended his career with 48 international centuries.
Rohit Sharma needs 766 runs to complete 20000 international runs
If Rohit scores another 766 runs in his international career, he will become the fourth Indian to have notched up 20000-plus international runs. As of now, he has 19234 runs at an average of 43.31 from 483 matches. Tendulkar (34357), Kohli (26942), and Dravid (24208) are the only three Indians who have scored over 20000 international runs so far.
Overall, 12 players have so far scored 20000-plus international runs. Apart from Tendulkar, Dravid and Kohli, the list includes Sangakkara (28016), Ponting (27483), Jayawardene (25957), Kallis (25534), Lara (22358), Sanath Jayasuriya (21032), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (20988), Inzamam-ul-Haq (20580) and AB de Villiers (20014).
England's prolific batter Joe Root also looks set to join the illustrious list. In 349 matches (457 innings), the right-hander has amassed 19817 runs at an average of 48.69, with 50 hundreds and 108 half-centuries.