Rohit Sharma becomes first India batter to achieve colossal ODI feat in Australia, surpasses Mahela Jayawardene too

Former India captain Rohit Sharma struggled at start against the new ball but continued the fight and scripted history at Adelaide Oval. Rohit became the first Indian batter to score 1,000 ODI runs against Australia in Australia. Rohit did it in his 21st innings against hosts in ODIs.

Rohit on list of legends 

Rohit joined the list of legendary batters to achieve the feat. The top spot belongs to West Indies' Viv Richards who scored 1,905 runs from 38 innings at an average of 56.02, featuring three centuries and 18 fifties. He is followed by former teammate Desmond Haynes with 1,565 runs from 51 ODIs at an average of 34.02, including two centuries and 12 centuries. 

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The first Sri Lankan to achieve the feat is Kumar Sangakkara. He scored 1,171 runs from 29 ODIs at an average of 43.37, including a century and four fifties. Rohit surpassed former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene on the list. He has 1,013 runs from 35 innings at an average of 31.65, featuring 10 half-centuries. Meanwhile, Rohit holds the record for most centuries by a visiting batter against Australia.

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Poor start for India

Earlier, Australia captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and opted to field first. Rohit played two maiden overs against Josh Hazlewood. In the seventh over, Xavier Bartlett who replaced Nathan Ellis, struck twice to dismiss skipper Shubman Gill for a single-digit score and Virat Kohli for a four-ball duck. This is the first time Kohli was dismissed for two consecutive ducks in ODIs.

Rohit capitalises 

India were 29/2 after first powerplay overs with Rohit batting on 19 from 43 deliveries. He got some medical attention on the field as well. After Hazlewood's opening spell, Rohit broke the shackles by hitting Mitchell Owen for two sixes. He reached his 59th ODI fifty from 74 balls, his slowest since 2015. Mitchell Starc returned to get the breakthrough. He scored 73 runs from 97 balls, laced with seven fours and two sixes.

The 38-year-old also surpassed former captain Sourav Ganguly on the list of most ODI runs for India. Ganguly scored 11,121 runs from 308 ODIs for India.