Rohit Sharma becomes highest run scorer surpassing Babar Azam and Virat Kohli in T20I, says 50s and 100s don't matter to me

India's captain Rohit Sharma hits a six during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup cricket match between India and Bangladesh at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda, Saturday, June 22, 2024. AP/PTI

Recently, Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma has made significant strides in the T20 International (T20I) format, excelling both as a leader and a batsman. Following India's T20 World Cup victory over Australia on Monday, he has matched Pakistan captain Babar Azam's record for the most wins as a captain in this format.

Moreover, surpassing his teammate Virat Kohli, Sharma now holds the record for the highest runs scored in T20Is. As captain, Rohit Sharma has guided India to 48 victories in the T20I format, a tally he shares with Babar Azam, who also boasts 48 wins as Pakistan's captain.

Sharma's leadership was particularly evident during India's recent 24-run triumph over Australia, marking his 60th match as captain and encompassing wins decided by Super Overs. His recent performance signals a return to form, with the batsman showcasing his skills at a pivotal juncture.

Across 157 matches, Sharma has accumulated a total of 4,165 runs, achieving an average of 32.03 and a strike rate of 140.75.

His onslaught began immediately after India suffered an initial setback when Josh Hazlewood dismissed Virat Kohli for a duck. In the subsequent over, Sharma took on Mitchell Starc, smashing 28 runs (including a wide) off his over, four of them towering sixes. Rohit maintained his momentum throughout his innings, hitting seven fours and a total of eight sixes, reaching his fifty in just 19 deliveries.

However, despite nearing a century, Rohit was dismissed by a yorker-length delivery from Starc in the 12th over of the innings. Named player of the match, Rohit addressed missing out on his century in the post-match presentation.

"I mentioned in my previous post-match presentation that 50s and 100s don't concern me. I aim to bat with the same tempo, play my shots when needed, and keep pressure on the bowlers," Rohit remarked.

This achievement firmly places him as the leading run-scorer in T20Is, with Babar Azam following in second place with 4,145 runs from 123 matches, and Virat Kohli in third place.