15 October,2023 04:26 PM IST | Mumbai | Rohan Koli
India skipper Rohit Sharma walks back after being dismissed for 86 against Pakistan at Ahmedabad on Saturday. PIC/GETTY IMAGES
Rohit Sharma lit up the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad by smashing 86 off 63 deliveries to guide India to a massive seven-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in a 2023 ODI World Cup league match on Saturday. However, the India skipper may be disappointed to miss out on yet another ton at the venue.
The Mumbai man tops the run-getters list at Ahmedabad among current players (307 runs in six innings, including three half-centuries), but has to yet score a century at the world's biggest stadium after coming close to a three-figure score yet again on Saturday.
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In his first match at Motera against South Africa in 2010, Rohit fell just two short of a half-century as India went on to lose the third and inconsequential ODI by 90 runs. The right-handed batsman came close to a century against West Indies in 2011, missing out by just five runs after a direct hit by skipper Darren Sammy at the non-striker's end sent the batsman back to the pavilion. The dismissal proved to be a turning point of the game as the visitors won by a mere 16 runs.
Leading from the front in 2022, Rohit looked all set for a big hundred with 60 of the team's 84 runs (before being dismissed) coming from the skipper's bat. Chasing a mere 177-run target against West Indies, Rohit gave the hosts a solid start before pacer Alzarri Joseph dismissed him. His 51-ball knock was laced with 10 fours and one maximum. On Saturday too, Rohit took India close to victory, but missed out on yet another well-deserved hundred.
