Rohit Sharma breaks Sachin’s ODI world cup record
With 15 overs remaining, Team India easily defeated Afghanistan’s score of 272 for a resounding victory. Rohit Sharma broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record of seven World Cup hundreds. Rohit Sharma came out firing in the first game. Additionally, he shattered Kapil Dev’s 40-year-old record for the fastest century by an Indian batsman in a world cup.
While Sachin recorded six centuries in as many series of World Cups that he played — 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011, Rohit achieved the record in only three world cup series: 2015, 2019 and 2023.
In addition, Rohit owns the record for the most hundreds (five) scored by a batter at a World Cup, a performance he accomplished in 2019 in England.
Rohit passed Australian icon Ricky Ponting with his 131 off 84 balls against Afghanistan, making it his 31st century overall. In terms of ODI cricket history, he is now behind Virat Kohli (47) and Tendulkar (49) of India.
The fastest ODI century for India at a World Cup was previously held by Kapil Dev (72) and Rohit smashed that record by reaching the century mark in just 63 balls (12 fours and 4 sixes).
In commanding form during India’s pursuit of 273 against Afghanistan, Rohit (556) also surpassed Chris Gayle (553 sixes all formats) of the West Indies to set the record for the most sixes ever hit in international cricket.
Virat Kohli hit 55* off 56 balls for his 68th half-century, making his time at the crease worthwhile. Shreyas Iyer held down the other end with 25 not out.
After choosing to bat first, Afghanistan earlier managed to score 272/8. Before Jasprit Bumrah bowled 4/39 to stop the Afghans’ momentum, Hasmatullah Shahidi (80) and Azmatullah Omarzai (62) scored 121 runs for the fourth wicket to build the groundwork for a large total. Additionally, this was the pacer’s strongest 50-over World Cup bowling performance.