Rohit Sharma Surpasses Cricket Legends Tendulkar, Ponting, Dhoni With 10,000 ODI Runs On IND vs SL Asia Cup Clash

Namrata Sawal

September 13, 2023

8 min read

Summary: During the India vs. Sri Lanka Asia Cup Super 4 match on Tuesday, Rohit Sharma achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the second-fastest cricketer to reach 10,000 ODI runs.

Amidst a period of inconsistent performance, the India captain's resurgence arrives perfectly, just 22 days before the World Cup. Preparing for cricket's grandest stage, Rohit Sharma achieved another remarkable batting record – a feat he'll cherish long into retirement. As the sole player with three double centuries in ODIs, Rohit solidified his status as an all-time one-day great on Tuesday, joining the ranks of the 6th Indian and the 15th overall to reach 10,000 runs in this format.

Rohit Sharma's achievement places him as the second-fastest batsman ever to reach the 10,000-run milestone, surpassing a prestigious list of cricket legends. The likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Sourav Ganguly, Brian Lara, Chris Gayle, MS Dhoni, and even his coach Rahul Dravid were left far behind. During India's Asia Cup 2023 Super Four match against Sri Lanka in Colombo, Rohit accomplished this feat in his 241st ODI innings, securing the record for the most sixes in Asia Cup history by hitting a six during the match, surpassing Shahid Afridi.

Virat Kohli maintains his top position on the list, achieving his 10,000th ODI run in just 205 innings, with Rohit Sharma securing the second spot. Notably, Rohit reached this milestone in 18 fewer innings than the legendary Tendulkar, 22 less than Ganguly, 25 less than Ponting, and 32 fewer than Dhoni. Meanwhile, other greats like Lara (278), Gayle (282), Dravid (287), and Tillakaratne Dilshan (293) follow in the rankings. Additionally, Rohit set a unique record by becoming the highest six-hitter in the Asia Cup's history when he hit a six during the match.

Rohit wasted no time in finding his rhythm. On the second ball of the match, he seized a tempting half-volley and effortlessly drove it through the covers for a boundary, getting off the mark in style. Facing the disciplined line and length deliveries from Maheesh Theekshana and Kasun Rajitha, Rohit remained patient, yet he maintained a commendable strike rate of 75. He received an unexpected gift when Charith Asalanka fumbled near the boundary, granting him a second boundary. You could sense Rohit's eagerness as he created room on a couple of occasions against Rajitha, but both deliveries were wide down the leg side. After facing two dot balls, Rohit adjusted his position slightly and confidently struck the ball straight down the ground for a maximum.

For the second consecutive game, India commenced their innings brilliantly as Rohit and Shubman Gill swiftly propelled the total beyond fifty within the initial ten overs. This partnership marked an astonishing achievement of 1000 runs while opening together, achieved in a mere 12 innings. Rohit and Gill's combined efforts have resulted in an impressive tally of 1046 runs (and counting), maintaining an outstanding average of 91.3. Within this performance, they have notched up five half-century and four-century partnerships. However, their partnership in this particular game saw them accumulate 80 runs before Dunith Wellalage dismissed the young Indian batsman, Gill, for 19 off 25 balls.