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Rohit Sharma has once again etched his name in the annals of Indian cricket history on Sunday, October 22 during a high-octane ODI World Cup 2023 match against New Zealand held at the scenic Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala.
India skipper stepped on a big feat of hitting 50 sixes in ODIs within a calendar year. This achievement makes him the first Indian batter to ever reach this remarkable milestone.
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The moment that secured Rohit's place in the record books came during New Zealand's run-chase. On the second last ball of the 2nd over, bowled by Matt Henry, Rohit showcased his signature style, dispatching the ball for a mammoth six over mid-wicket. This wasn't the first time Rohit set such a record as he outdid his own previous best of 46 sixes that he had set back in 2017.
Notably, the all time record for the highest number of sixes in a calendar year still belongs to the legendary AB de Villiers. The former South African batting maestro blasted 58 sixes over just 18 innings in 2015. Close behind him is the charismatic West Indian batter, Chris Gayle, who unleashed 56 sixes in 2019.
Rohit's current form in the World Cup 2023 is nothing short of phenomenal. Even though he started off the ODI World Cup campaign with an unfortunate duck in India's opening match against Australia, Rohit made a resounding comeback. Displaying his mastery with the bat, he sculpted a majestic century against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. This innings was even more special as it enabled him to surpass the legendary Kapil Dev's record, making Rohit the holder of the fastest century by an Indian in World Cup history.
Rohit further stamped his authority during India's clash with Pakistan. At the grandiose Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 14, he meticulously dismantled the Pakistani bowlers, racking up a commendable score of 86 runs. Following this, his invaluable contribution of 48 runs was evident in India's match against Bangladesh at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.
He continued his batting blitz in the match against New Zealand too. While chasing a modest total of 273, Rohit scored an impressive 46 off 40 riding on four boundaries and as many sixes to give India a solid start. However, soon after Rohit's dismissal, Shubman Gill returned to pavilion after scoring 26 off 31. New Zealand then handed another jolt to India with Shreyas Iyer's wicket. As of 22.3 over India are 129/3 with Virat Kohli (23) and KL Rahul (0) intact on the crease.
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