Rohit Sharma makes history in 2nd ODI vs Sri Lanka despite India's embarrassing loss

Indian Cricket Team captain Rohit Sharma has been in red-hot form with the bat, smashing back-to-back fifties in the ongoing three-match ODI series. However, India failed to register a single win in the ODI series so far, but Rohit achieved a series of incredible milestones.

The senior Indian opener hammered 58 runs in the three-match ODI series opener, followed by another stunning knock of 64 runs off 44 balls during Team India’s 32-run defeat in the second ODI against Sri Lanka at R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, August 4.

Rohit Sharma's record-breaking form continues on Sri Lanka tour

Rohit smoked five fours and four sixes during his classic knock and achieved a remarkable milestone in ODI cricket. The right-handed batter became the first Indian to hit 300 sixes as an opener in ODI cricket. He also became the only second batter in the world to have smashed 300 sixes as an opener in the 50-over format after Chris Gayle (328).

The Indian skipper is currently the third player in the world with the most sixes in ODI cricket with 330 sixes after legendary Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi (351) and Gayle. Rohit (615) is also the only batter in the world to have smashed over 600 sixes in international cricket.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma reached his half-century in just the 10th over in the second ODI against Sri Lanka, marking his fourth fifty within the first 10 overs in an ODI game. With this, Rohit became the second Indian to have hammered the most number of fifties within the first 10 overs in ODIs.

Virender Sehwag is leading the chart with seven fifty within the first 10 overs in the format. Apart from this, Rohit has also hit a staggering 53 sixes in the first 10 overs of ODIs since January 2023, which were the highest by any batter.

Rohit Sharma breaks Rahul Dravid-Sachin Tendulkar's record in ODI cricket

David Warner is on the second with 24 sixes to his name. Rohit has also surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s (120) record for the most fifty-plus scores by an Indian opener in international cricket. He now holds the record with 121 fifty-plus scores in ODIs.

At the top of the list for the most fifty-plus scores as an opener is Australia’s David Warner (146), followed by West Indies legend Chris Gayle (144), Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya (136), West Indies’ Gayle (131) and Desmond Haynes (131), and South Africa’s Graeme Smith (125).

During the second ODI in Colombo, Rohit surpassed former head coach Rahul Dravid to become India's fourth-highest run scorer in ODI cricket. Rohit, who now has 10,831 runs, moved ahead of Dravid, who finished his ODI career with 10,768 runs.

He is now only behind Tendulkar (18,426), Virat Kohli (13,872), and Sourav Ganguly (11,221) on the list of highest ODI run-scorers for India. Rohit also notched his ninth half-century in ODIs against Sri Lanka. Over 54 matches against the Sri Lanka team, he has amassed a total of 1,986 runs so far.