Rohit Sharma took the Kiwi bowlers by a storm when India faced New Zealand at Seddon Park, Hamilton on Wednesday. He seemed to be at his absolute best as he hit the bowlers for maximums all across the park. He completed his half-century in style as he scored 26 runs in just 5 balls to bring up his fifty. Unfortunately, he got caught out at 65 after some magnificent play.
Twitter was full of praises for the opener.
Hit man show on @ImRo45
— Rittick Mahato (@RittickMahato2) January 29, 2020
I’ll play lose shots and throw wicket in 1-2 games.
Make my haters happy
Then in 3rd game I’ll f*ck the bowlers and hater in the same match.
Aap chronology samjhiye#RohitSharma #INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/OCcgZWRwKL
— Ajay Yadav (@Im_ajstyle) January 29, 2020
#RohitSharma things
End of 5th Over: 24 Runs
End of 6th Over: 50 Runs#NZvIND pic.twitter.com/Q6kbtHvnON
— Raj Kumar (@urs_Rajcherry) January 29, 2020
Well Played Hitman @ImRo45 #Hitman #RohitSharma pic.twitter.com/PTrXOvP0Xb
— We Love Rohit (@WeLoveRohit) January 29, 2020
Rohit 18 Ball 24 Runs
23 Ball 50 Runs
Just 5 Balls 26 Runs
3 Six 2 Four #INDvsNZ #RohitSharma pic.twitter.com/lg2HFaRnRU
— TROLL MUMBAI HATERS (@MI__offl) January 29, 2020
pitch looked as flat as it can till Rohit was batting. once he got out suddenly run scoring became difficult.
the class of hitman always creates elusion @ImRo45 #INDvsNZ
— That Lazy Guy. (@LazyElegance45) January 29, 2020
OMG 6,6,4,4,6
Hitman show
Well played hitman bring it ON— Raaj Prince (@raajstr686) January 29, 2020
The highlight of his inning was undoubtedly his hellfire against Hamish Bennett in the sixth over where he hit three sixes and two fours to get 27 runs from the over.
6,6,4,4,6
In 1 over #INDvsNZ#hitman #RohitSharma@mipaltanpic.twitter.com/O4VpHbaIiR
— Vinayshetty (@Vinay45shetty45) January 29, 2020
Rohit Sharma’s 26 runs off Hamish Bennett’s over – is the 2nd most by an Indian batsman in a single over in T20Is.
Only Yuvraj’s 36 runs is ahead of him.#NZvIND @ImRo45 pic.twitter.com/n9ySEVI9Dj— Rohit Sharma FC (@BestOfHitman) January 29, 2020
Not a good return for Hamish Bennett into the Intl level. #NZvIND
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 29, 2020
Rohit Sharma is in the mood…
Hamish Bennett right now: pic.twitter.com/zSiLn65A5N
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) January 29, 2020
Rohit Sharma also completed 10,000 runs in international cricket as an opener during his inning. He is now the second-fastest opener after Sachin Tendulkar to reach this milestone. He is also the fourth Indian to do this. Before him, Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag reached this milestone for India.
Rohit also became the leading six-hitter in T20Is as an opener. He surpassed Chris Gayle and Martin Guptill to reach the top. He has 106 sixes, while Gayle and Guptill have 105 maximums each.
Sharma’s 65 also is the highest score by an Indian in New Zealand in T20Is. Suresh Raina (61*) stands second, Shreyas Iyer (58*) stands third and KL Rahul (57*) stand fourth. This was also his second-fastest fifty (in 23 balls) in T20Is. His half-century against West Indies (in 22 balls) was the fastest.
He also has 18 fifty-plus scores away from home in T20Is. This is the most by any cricketer in this format.
The fourth T20 fixture between India and New Zealand will be on Friday, January 31. However, the series could be determined by India’s victory over the Kiwis in their ongoing third encounter.