Rohit Sharma hundred today: How many centuries of Rohit Sharma in all formats for India?

India captain Rohit Sharma has put an end to a century drought in ODI cricket by registering his 30th century in the format in the ongoing third ODI against New Zealand in Indore. Sharma, who hadn’t been out of form per se, needed a personal three-figure mark in a sport whose viewers are obsessed with individual milestones.

Also at home three years ago, readers must note that Sharma’s last ODI century had witnessed him scoring 119 (128) with the help of eight fours and six sixes in a successful 287-run chase against Australia in Bengaluru.

Opening the batting with Shubman Gill (112) at the Holkar Stadium today, Sharma made optimum use of both the powerplay overs and a comparatively shorter boundary size of this venue. With the visitors playing without their A-list pacers namely Trent Boult and Tim Southee, Sharma hardly faced any initial trouble by the likes of Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson or Blair Tickner.

It was in the third over of the match that Sharma hit a couple of boundaries off Duffy only to follow it with a six in his next over. Getting his timing right on each of these occasions, Sharma targeted Duffy again to hit him for a four and two sixes in the last over of the first powerplay.

It was on the first delivery of the 14th over when Sharma danced down the track to New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner to not only nail a six but also complete a half-century off 41 balls. Sharma, who hit another six in the same over, hit as many as three fours in the next Daryl Mitchell over in what was doubtlessly a fascinating display of batting.

Rohit Sharma hundred today

As Sharma and Gill joined hands for the fifth-highest opening partnership among Indian batters in ODIs, both the right-handers were practically involved in a race to complete a century.

Much like the 50-run mark, Gill was the first of the two to reach the three-figure mark as well. However, brisk boundary shots from both of them didn’t make the fans wait a lot, particularly with respect to Sharma.

It was just after the halfway mark that Sharma ran a single off Tickner to bring up his 28th ODI century as an opening batter, 15th in Asia, 12th at home, second against the Kiwis and first at this venue.

How many centuries of Rohit Sharma in all formats for India?

Tests – Eight centuries in 45 matches.

ODIs – 30 centuries in 241 matches.

T20Is – Four centuries in 148 matches.

Total – 44 centuries in 434 international matches.