India vs Australia 2017: Love Playing Against The Australians - Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma could not have asked for a better finish to the series against Australia as his 125-run knock fired India to a thumping 7-wicket win in the fifth and final One-Day International on Sunday (October 1). The knock came off just 109 balls and was studded with 11 fours and five sixes.

The India star, who had endured a terrible time on the sidelines for close to 7 months due to a thigh injury, hit the ground running in his very first tournament for the Men in Blue. The Mumbai star returned to the national team during the Champions Trophy where he finished the tournament as its second highest run-getter. His impressive show continued in Sri Lanka too where he slammed two centuries to help India whitewash the five-match series.

And the 39-year old has similarly begun the home season. Rohit failed to get going in the first two games of the series, scoring 28 and seven before returning to form with two consecutive half-centuries. The right-handed batsman then capped off the fine series with a match-winning century to finish the series as its highest-scorer with 296 runs.

Rohit, who braved the cramps en route to his century, deservedly won the Man of the Match award and said:

“I GUESS IT WAS A BIT OF CRAMP, THE WEATHER HAS BEEN HOT. THAT’S ALWAYS BEEN MY THING – TO KEEP IT SIMPLE. AND THAT HAS WORKED FOR ME. CERTAIN AREAS I KEEP WORKING OFF THE FIELD. NOTHING COMES EASY. I KNOW MY STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES. INITIALLY IT WAS TOUGH, THE AUSTRALIANS CHANGED THEIR PLANS. THEY WERE MUCH STRAIGHTER COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS GAME.

When asked about his incredible record against Australia, Rohit said:

” I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SUCH A RECORD AGAINST ALL THE TEAMS. LOVE PLAYING AGAINST THE AUSTRALIANS, THEY’RE COMPETITIVE AND NEVER GIVE ANYTHING EASILY. THAT PROBABLY BRINGS OUT THE BEST.”

India ??? https://t.co/5BkMXJN3b9

— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) October 1, 2017