Rohit Sharma Becomes First Batsman To Complete 100 International Sixes Against Australia

Rohit Sharma, India’s charismatic opener, achieves another milestone while batting on the second day of the ongoing Test against Australia in Sydney. Rohit, who is known for his six-hitting penchant, has recorded a 100 maximums against Australia.

After missing the first two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar series due to injury and quarantine, Rohit replaced Mayank Agarwal as the opener for the third match. In reply to Australia’s first innings total of 338, Rohit walked in and opened with youngster Shubman Gill.

Both the batsmen were cautious and solid in their approach against the Aussie pacers till off-spinner Nathan Lyon was introduced in the 14th over of the innings.

In Lyon’s second over, the right-hander skipped to the pitch of the ball and launched it over the long-on fielder for half a dozen runs. With this six against Lyon on Friday (January 8), the right-hander becomes the first and only batsman hitherto to hit 100 sixes against Australia – he achieved this feat in 67 innings. The 33-year-old also notched his maiden ODI double hundred against the same opposition.

The next best is England’s limited-overs skipper, Eoin Morgan, who has smashed 63 sixes against Australia in 69 innings. Amongst other Indians, former players MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar have lofted 60 sixes each against the Kangaroos.

With 424 maximums the Mumbai Indians captain is currently third on the list of most international sixes – behind Chris Gayle’s 534 and Shahid Afridi’s tally of 476 sixes.

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill set a strong base; match evenly poised

India ended Day 2 at the SCG at the score of 96/2 and trail by 242 runs. Rohit Sharma, after missing the Test series in New Zealand last year and a couple of matches against Australia, returned to his opening spot partnered by Shubman Gill, who made an impressive debut in Melbourne.

Both the openers gave a solid start to India. Rohit, in particular, who hasn’t played any red-ball cricket since the series against South Africa in 2019, was heedful while batting against the new ball. Both defended and left good balls, while cashed in on the bad ones.

Rohit got out for 26 to a soft dismissal as he lobbed a catch back to Josh Hazlewood. Gill continued to cement his place as the opener in the Test side as he raised his maiden Test fifty before edging one to Cameron Green off the bowling of Pat Cummins. Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara saw off the last 77 balls of the day and will continue batting on Day 3 in order to take a lead and bat Australia out of the game.

Also Read: Watch: ‘I’ll tell you after the match’: Shubman Gill Tells Marnus Labuschagne After The Latter Tried To Unsettle The Opener