The 'Hitman' Rohit Sharma achieved a sensational milestone for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League's (IPL) 57th match against Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Wankhede stadium on Friday (May 12).
MI skipper Rohit whacked 200th six for his IPL franchise as he smoked two big sixes and three fours in his quickfire 18-ball 29. Rohit completed his 200th six by belting Mohit Sharma for a maximum over deep square-leg after smashing back-to-back fours to step on the milestone.
After featuring for Deccan Chargers in the initial years of IPL, Rohit moved to MI in 2011 and ever since has been serving the Paltans. Under his leadership Rohit won record five titles for MI.
Not just this, Rohit also shattered AB De Villiers' record to become only the second batters to smoke most sixes in the history of IPL after Chris Gayle. Rohit now has clobbered 252 sixes, one more than AB De Villiers' 251.
Most sixes in IPL
Chris Gayle 357
Rohit Sharma 252
AB De Villiers 251
MS Dhoni 239
Virat Kohli 229
However, after playing a six-laden knock Rohit was trapped by Rashid Khan in the seventh over. With this Rohit also put an end to his streak of single-digit scores in the ongoing IPL.
Rohit hasn't really clicked with the bat in the sixteenth edition of the glitzy league. Before the match against GT, Rohit scored just 12 runs in the last five matches riding on two ducks.
MI went on to post a colossal total of 218/5 riding on Suryakumar Yadav's blistering 49-balls 103. In reply MI rode on Suryakumar's maiden IPL ton to rock table toppers Gujarat Titans (GT) by 27 runs to move closer to playoff berth.
Earlier, Hardik Pandya won the toss and put MI to bat first. Both the teams didn't tinker with their playing XIs.
“We will bowl first. Looks like a good wicket, dew could have an effect, so chasing could be ideal. We realise the importance of every game, just need to stick to our plans and play good cricket. It's important to learn the lessons from your losses, rectify and don't repeat it. You do make mistakes in such a long tournament. God has been kind with our injuries. Same XI tonight,” GT captain Hardik said after winning the toss.
“We would have done the same thing, we need to bat and bowl really well. Things are coming along nicely in the last few games. We understand where we stand at the moment, just focus on the game in hand. It's not been ideal in terams of injury management, but we'll have to deal with it and thats waht the guys have done. We;'ve spoken about not letting external factors affect us. We're playing with the same squad as the last game,” MI skipper Rohit Sharma said after the toss.
Follow the MI vs GT's live scores here
Mumbai Indians (Playing XI): Ishan Kishan(w), Rohit Sharma(c), Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Nehal Wadhera, Tim David, Chris Jordan, Vishnu Vinod, Piyush Chawla, Jason Behrendorff, Kumar Kartikeya.
MI Subs: Madhwal, Ramandeep, Brevis, Warrier, Shokeen
Gujarat Titans (Playing XI): Wriddhiman Saha(w), Vijay Shankar, Hardik Pandya(c), David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Abhinav Manohar, Mohit Sharma, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Alzarri Joseph, Noor Ahmad.
GT Subs: Gill, Sudharsan, KS Bharat, Shivam Mavi, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
Watch: 'I don’t sledge upfront, not my habit..' — Naveen ul Haq breaks silence after recent war of words with Virat Kohli
Batting phenom Yashasvi reveals golden tips from legendary Dhoni, Kohli which scripted his success mantra
Yuzvendra Chahal smashes all-time IPL record to become bowling juggernaut
