On this day in 2007, against England at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban, Indian all-format skipper Rohit Sharma made his T20I debut for India. It was his first game at senior level for the Indian men’s cricket team. Indian fans remember this match against England for Yuvraj Singh’s six sixes in an over against Stuart Broad, but it was also the first time Rohit Sharma stepped in for India in international cricket.
He didn’t get a chance to bat in that game, but he did make his presence felt on the field by taking a spectacular catch of English opening batter Vikram Solanki outside the 30-yard circle. It was a must-win game for India, and they managed to win it by 18 runs to keep themselves alive in the contest.
Rohit got the chance to bat for India for the first time in the next game against South Africa a day later on September 20, and in that match, he came out to bat at number five, and in his debut innings, he scored an unbeaten 50 runs off just 40 balls. He scored seven boundaries and two sixes in that game and helped India post a fighting total, which in the end turned out to be enough for them to pip the hosts and reach the semifinals.
In the semis against Australia, Rohit remained unbeaten on 8 off 5 balls, and in the summit clash against Pakistan for the inaugural T20 World Cup title, he scored 30 not out from 16 balls to help India cross the 150-run mark. Rohit made his presence felt in his first-ever tournament for India and went on to become the world champion.
The caravan that started 15-years back in South Africa has now seen the entire cricket world, and over all these years, the right-handed batter has achieved numerous milestones in his career. He is the leading run getter in the history of T20I matches and has also played the most number of matches, scored the most number of matches and much more.
His status in T20I cricket is legendary, and as he completes his 15 years in T20I cricket, Here’s a look at his T20I records for India.
Batting – Most RUNS: Position in World Cricket
1st – Most runs in career (3620)
- 18th – Most runs in an innings (118)
- 14th – Most runs in a calendar year (590)
- 14th – Most runs in an innings (by batting position) (118)
- 12th – Most runs in a match on the losing side (106)
- 6th – Most runs in an innings by a captain (118)
Batting: Averages and strike rates –
46th: Highest career batting average (32.32)
Batting: Fifties
2nd: Most fifties in career (32)
- 7th:Fifties in consecutive innings (3)
Batting: Boundaries2nd: Most sixes in career (171)
- 2nd:Most fours in career (323)
- 9th: Most sixes in an innings (10)
- 22nd: Most fours in an innings (12)
- 6th: Most runs from fours and sixes in an innings (108)
Batting: Fastest career runs34th:Fastest to 1000 runs (40)
- 10th: Fastest to 2000 runs (77)
- 7th: Fastest to 2500 runs (92)
Fielding: Most catches
3rd:Most catches in career (54)
- 20th:Most catches in an innings (3)
Individual: Players
1st: Most matches in career (136)
- 3rd:Most player-of-the-match awards (11)
- 13th: Longest careers (14y 352d)
Individual: Captains15th: Most matches as captain (39)
- 39th:Winning all tosses in a series (3)
- After completing his 15 years in international cricket, Rohit will once again look to become the T20 World Cup winner. He is set to lead the Indian team for the first time at an ICC event next month in Australia.
