Only 2nd Time In History! Rohit Sharma Eyes Elusive Feat Achieved By Only MS Dhoni

03.01.2024 - 04:35 sports.ndtv.com

Rohit Sharma will be looking to become just the second Indian cricket team skipper ever after MS Dhoni to draw a Test series in South Africa as the two teams face each other on Wednesday.

India's hopes of winning a maiden Test series in South Africa were dashed after a humiliating defeat in the first Test. However, a win in the second Test will mean that Rohit will be able to achieve a feat that has happened just once in the last eight occasions.

Under Dhoni's captaincy, the Test series between India and South Africa in 2010-11 ended 1-1 between the two sides. Besides 2010-11, India ended up losing the Test series in 1992-93, 1996-97, 2001-02, 2006-07, 2013, 2018, and 2021-22.

India's young batsmen will simply have to find a way to cope with South Africa's "challenging" conditions, Rohit Sharma said on Tuesday.

cricket South Africa Cricket Team India Cricket Team MS Dhoni South Africa vs India Rohit Sharma South Africa India

India captain Rohit Sharma won over fans and critics once again with his exceptional knock of 121 runs in the 3rd T20I against Afghanistan. Rohit's stunning show with the bat silenced many such voices that were questioning his place in India's T20I Team. But, it wasn't just Rohit's batting that was brilliant in Bengaluru on Wednesday but also his captaincy. Former India cricketer Rohan Gavaskar, speaking of Rohit's leadership, said the Hitman's style of leadership is the reason why has a higher win percentage than his predecessors, Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni.

36 Runs In One Over! Rohit Sharma, Rinku Singh Achieve Huge Feat With Just 5 Sixes

Rohit Sharma and Rinku Singh slammed 36 runs in one over but with just five sixes during the third T20I encounter against Afghanistan in Bengaluru on Wednesday. In the last over of the Indian innings, Rohit slammed Karim Janat for a four on the first ball and a six off the second ball which was a no-ball. The next ball was a free-hit that went for another six. On the following delivery which was the third legitimate ball of the over, Rohit could only manage to take a single. Rinku Singh faced the next last three balls and the left-hander slammed three sixes off them to take the score to 212. This was the third time in T20I history after Yuvraj Singh and Kieron Pollard's achievements that 36 runs were scored in one over - the most in T20I history.

India vs Afghanistan: Rohit Sharma Makes History, Becomes 1st Batter Ever To Achieve Massive T20I Feat

It was a sensational batting display from Indian cricket team skipper Rohit Sharma as he slammed a brilliant century in the third T20I encounter against Afghanistan in Bengaluru on Wednesday. This was the fifth T20I century for Rohit and he became the first batter ever to achieve the feat in the shortest format of the game. Rohit remained unbeaten on 121 off 69 deliveries with the help of 11 fours and 8 sixes. Thanks to his phenomenal innings, Rohit also surpassed Virat Kohli's tally to become the Indian cricket team skipper with the most runs in T20I cricket. Kohli held the record previously with 1570 runs as captain.

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma Chase History, On Verge Of Massive Records Ahead Of 3rd Afghanistan T20I

With the series already in the bag, the Indian side will be eager to perfect its freshly-baked T20I template as a team and hope that skipper Rohit Sharma's bat finally fires when they face Afghanistan in the third and last match of the rubber in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Rohit needs only 44 runs to surpass Virat Kohli and become the India skipper with most T20I runs. Rohit currently has 1527 runs to his name as India's T20I skipper. Additionally, another win as India's T20I skipper will see Rohit surpassing MS Dhoni to become the most successful India captain in the format. Currently both are tied at 41.

"Tu Ja Aur Bindaas...": Yashasvi Jaiswal Reveals Rohit Sharma's Message Post 2nd T20I Heroics

Backed to open alongside skipper Rohit Sharma in the second T20I against Afghanistan on Sunday, Yashasvi Jaiswal made quite a statement with his 34-ball 68 in Indore. The promising youngster said it was all thanks to the "go out and express yourself" brief from the Indian team management, especially the captain. The 22-year-old's strokeful knock at the top of the order and Shivam Dube's 63 not out off 32 balls, helped India register a six-wicket series-clinching win here on Sunday as the hosts easily chased down the target of 173 with 26 balls to spare.

Watch: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma Can't Control Laughter As India Make Mockery Of Chase In 2nd T20I

India swept aside Afghanistan in the second T20I of a three-match series on Sunday, registering a six-wicket win at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. India captain Rohit Sharma became the first player to feature in 150 T20Is, while star batter Virat Kohli return to the side in the format after a gap of more than 14 months. After bowling Afghanistan out for 172, India achieved the target in 15.4 overs, thanks to half-centuries from Shivam Dube and youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal.