Rohit Sharma rewrites ODI history: Most hundreds in visiting country after iconic Lord’s century
Rohit Sharma plays a shot during the 3rd ODI against England at Lord’s. (NOT a photo) Rohit Sharma etched his name into cricket records on Sunday by becoming the batsman with the most ODI centuries in a visiting nation, producing a spectacular hundred at Lord’s to help India stay alive in the crucial third ODI against England.The decisive milestone was Rohit’s eighth ODI century in England when he got past Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar and put him alone at the top of the elite all-time list.
Most ODI hundreds in a visiting nation
- Rohit Sharma – 8 in England
- Sachin Tendulkar – 7 in UAE
- Saeed Anwar – 7 in UAE
- AB de Villiers – 7 in India
- Quinton de Kock – 7 in India
The century was another remarkable addition to Rohit’s scintillating ODI legacy. Of all England batsmen, only Joe Root (10) has more ODI hundreds in the country, while former England opener Marcus Trescothick also has eight.After failing to score more than fifty in his previous eight ODI innings and coming under intense scrutiny amid speculation about his future, the 39-year-old responded in the most emphatic way with his 34th ODI century at the Home of Cricket.
Lord’s adds to Rohit’s long list of milestones
During the innings, Rohit also overwrote several boards at the iconic venue.At 39 years and 80 days, he became the oldest batsman to score an ODI century at Lord’s and also the oldest Indian to score an international century across all formats.More importantly, Rohit became the first Indian batsman to score an ODI hundred at Lord’s, surpassing Sourav Ganguly’s 90 against England in 2004, which was India’s highest individual ODI score for over two decades.The milestone came in Rohit’s protective style. Facing Adil Rashid in the 31st over, the Indian opener swept a flying delivery over cow corner for four to bring his century close. As the ball raced towards the boundary, the entire Indian dressing room including head coach Gautam Gambhir stood up in applause. Rohit acknowledged a standing ovation from the packed Lord’s crowd before receiving a warm hug from Virat Kohli.It was a measured innings that started cautiously before turning into a vintage Rohit game that silenced critics who questioned his place after a long lean run.
England had amassed a record total before Rohit’s reply
Earlier, England posted a dismal 387/3, the highest ODI total ever recorded at Lord’s.Ben Duckett shone with a brilliant 141 to become only the sixth batsman to score both Test and ODI centuries at Lord’s, while Jacob Bethell hit 91 in 192 starts.Joe Root continued his remarkable consistency, extending his unbeaten streak in the series to 249 runs, becoming the first English batsman to score six consecutive fifty-plus ODIs. Jos Buttler then smashed an unbeaten 41 off just 13 deliveries as England plundered 63 runs in the last 19 balls.The late blitz also produced the fastest 50-plus partnership against India in ODI history, with Root and Buttler scoring 19.89.