New Delhi: India’s star batter Rohit Sharma etched another milestone in his illustrious career, surpassing former captain Sourav Ganguly to become India’s third-highest run-scorer in One-Day Internationals (ODIs).
After a disappointing single-digit score in the series opener at Perth, Rohit made a strong comeback in the second ODI against Australia. Unlike his usual explosive self, the ‘Hitman’ adopted a measured approach, taking his time before accelerating later in the innings.
The result was a composed 73-run knock off 97 balls, studded with seven fours and two towering sixes, both trademark pull shots off Mitchell Owen. His innings came at a strike rate of 75.26, anchoring India’s top order under testing conditions.
With this innings, Rohit now has 11,249 runs in 275 ODIs at an impressive average of 48.69, including 32 centuries and 59 fifties, with a career-best of 264. He overtook Ganguly, who had amassed 11,121 runs in 308 matches at an average of 40.95, with 22 centuries and 71 half-centuries.
At the top of India’s all-time ODI run chart remain Sachin Tendulkar (18,426 runs, 49 centuries) and Virat Kohli (14,181 runs, 51 centuries).
Since 2022, Rohit has registered 19 fifty-plus scores, with this being only the second instance where his strike rate dropped below 100 — the previous one being his 66-ball fifty against England during the 2023 ICC World Cup.
In 2025, Rohit has so far accumulated 383 runs in 10 ODI innings, averaging 38.30, with one century and two fifties, his top score being 119.
Australia, having won the toss and chosen to bowl first, currently lead the three-match series 1-0.
Playing XIs:
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Matthew Short, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey (w), Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (w), Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj.
