Rohit Sharma's 3 best white-ball knocks in the West Indies
Team India skipper Rohit Sharma has blown hot and cold with the bat so far in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Although the Men in Blue cruised through to the Super 8 stage of the tournament, the batting unit has struggled to get going, barring a few exceptions.
Rohit, for instance, began the tournament in a spectacular fashion. He scored a fine half-century against Ireland in the opening game before getting retired hurt after being hit on the arm. The last two matches saw him register 13 and three against Pakistan and the USA, respectively.
With the Super 8 stage set to begin in a couple of days, Rohit will want not to dwell in the past and look forward to leading the team from the front. The Men in Blue will play their Super 8 matches in the West Indies after a successful USA leg.
On that note, let's take a look at Rohit Sharma's three best white-ball knocks in the West Indies.
#1 79 off 46 vs Australia - T20 World Cup 2010
Rohit Sharma's highest T20 score in the Caribbean Islands came during a T20 World Cup match against Australia in 2010 in Barbados.
Batting first, the Aussies posted a mammoth 184/5 in their 20 overs. Shane Watson and David Warner added 104 runs for the opening wicket to get the team off to a solid start. David Hussey used the platform exceptionally well to help the team post a mammoth total.
Indian batters, barring Rohit Sharma, were steamrolled by the Aussie bowlers and were skittled out for 135 runs. While wickets kept tumbling at one end, Rohit held fort at the other end. He played some gorgeous-looking shots and remained unbeaten on 79 off 46 deliveries at a strike rate of 171.73. His knock included four boundaries and six mammoth maximums.
However, his knock went in vain, as India lost the match by 49 runs and eventually crashed out of the tournament.
#2 86* vs West Indies - 5-match ODI series, 2011
India came into the third game of the series on the back of a comfortable 2-0 lead. Batting first, the hosts were reeling at 96/7 before Andre Russell produced arguably his best ODI innings. He smashed eight boundaries and five sixes for an unbeaten 92 off 64 deliveries to power his side to 225/8 in 50 overs.
The Men in Blue were reduced to 92/6 during the run-chase and were staring down the barrel. However, Rohit showed fighting instincts to keep the game alive. He stitched together two crucial partnerships with Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar to take the team home with 22 balls to spare.
Rohit Sharma remained unbeaten on 86 off 91 balls, including five boundaries and two sixes. It is also his highest white-ball score in the Caribbean Islands.
#3 64 vs West Indies - 5-match T20I series - 2022
Rohit Sharma struck gold in the first fixture of the five-match T20I series against the West Indies in 2022. Batting first, he fired on all cylinders to get his side off to a blistering start.
The Men in Blue posted 190/6 in 20 overs, with Rohit emerging as the top-scorer. The Mumbai-born cricketer amassed 64 off 44 balls at a strike rate of 145.45, including seven boundaries and two sixes. It is also his second-highest T20I score in the West Indies.
India eventually emerged victorious in that contest by 68 runs after restricting the home side to 122/8.