Perth: One of Indian cricket’s most iconic figures, Rohit Sharma, is set to touch an earth-shattering landmark as he appears on the field for his 500th international game in the first One Day International (ODI) against Australia at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Sunday.
With this feat, he is entering a very small circle of cricketers who have gone that high.
A Legacy In The Making
Rohit has been a mainstay in Indian cricket since 2007. He has played 499 matches of various formats in which he has scored more than 19,700 runs at an average of 42.18 with 49 centuries and 108 half-centuries to his name. The highest individual score in an ODI belongs to him: 264 runs. There are only ten names on the list of players who have played 500 or more international matches, among which are Sachin Tendulkar (664 matches) and Virat Kohli (550 matches).
Milestones Within Reach
Just a handful of records are his as he comes up to this landmark:
ODI Sixes, Hitting Record: Rohit will be able to break the record held by Shahid Afridi of 351 sixes in ODIs after hitting only 8 more sixes.
50th International Century: He can be the third player of all time to reach 50 centuries in international cricket, the first two being Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, after scoring one more century.
20,000 International Runs: Rohit will be the 14th cricketer and the fourth Indian to score more than 20,000 runs across all formats if he gets roughly 300 more runs.
The Return Of The Champions
After the Champions Trophy victory in March, this is a comeback match for Rohit Sharma and ex-captain Virat Kohli, who have both been away from the Indian team. Their wisdom and leadership are likely to make the India team stronger and more confident in this important series against Australia.
A New Era Under Gill’s Leadership
The series is also a new chapter in Indian leadership, with Shubman Gill taking over as ODI captain. The 26-year-old Gill said he looked up to his predecessors and that he had ‘big shoes’ to fill but saw the chance to learn from their experience.
Weather Watch
Morning showers are expected in Perth and might affect the timing of the cricket match. There is a 70% probability of rain before 11:30 am local time. If the rain continues, the match may not start on time or may be played for a fewer number of overs, thus introducing a variable of uncertainty to this landmark encounter.