The Indian cricket team is gearing up with determination to clinch the Test series against England in the penultimate match in Ranchi. After an initial stumble in the opening Test in Hyderabad, India orchestrated a commendable comeback, triumphing in the subsequent two matches. With several star players unable to play, Captain Rohit Sharma has emerged as a pillar of strength, notably with his performance during a critical phase in Rajkot, when India found itself in dire straits at 35 for 3.
On a personal level, the Ranchi Test presents Sharma with a golden opportunity to etch his name further into cricket’s record books. His batting prowess, which was under scrutiny due to a lean patch, roared back to life with a crucial century at a time when runs were elusive for him in the longest format of the game.
Rohit Sharma is tantalizingly close to the landmark total of 4000 runs in Test cricket. Thus far, he has accumulated 3977 runs, boasting a commendable average of 45.19 across 57 Test matches (98 innings), including 11 centuries and 16 half-centuries. The avid fans of Sharma are eagerly awaiting his next innings, where he seeks not only to cross the 4000 runs threshold but also to continue his legacy as a prolific run-scorer.
In terms of first-class cricket, Sharma’s record is equally impressive. The vice-captain is a mere 37 runs shy of the distinguished 9000-run mark, having scored 8963 runs in 189 innings. This milestone stands within reach during the Ranchi encounter.
Rohit’s knack for dispatching the ball over the boundary is legendary, regardless of the cricket format. So far, Sharma has sent the ball sailing over the ropes 80 times in Test matches, while amassing 323 and 190 sixes in the ODIs and T20Is, respectively. This brings his total to a staggering 593 international sixes. The Mumbai hitman, already at the top of the leaderboard for most sixes, is just seven awe-inspiring maximums away from the mystical figure of 600.
A host of other records is also within grasp for the Indian skipper in the upcoming Test. In his capacity as the captain of the Test side, Sharma is poised to reach the 1000-run mark, with only 70 more required. Additionally, a relatively modest 13 runs are what separate him from an aggregate of 1000 runs in Test cricket against England. Crossing this milestone would enlist Sharma as the 16th Indian batsman to have accomplished this feat.
As the Test match in Ranchi draws nearer, the spotlight shines brightly on Rohit Sharma. The following list showcases the records that Sharma is on the verge of surpassing:
– 23 runs to complete 4000 runs in Test cricket
– 7 sixes to reach 600 international maximums
– 37 runs to accomplish 9000 runs in first-class cricket
– 70 runs needed to surpass 1000 runs as a Test captain
– 13 runs to reach 1000 runs in Tests against England
While India prepares to consolidate its position and secure the series victory, England, under Captain Ben Stokes, remains determined yet cautious about the challenges ahead, including his own return to bowling in the remaining games. The series has already witnessed some intense cricket and with players from either camp looking to make their mark, the Ranchi Test is shaping up to be an epic battle. Beyond the team’s ambitions, Rohit Sharma will have his eyes set on personal glory and the chance to rewrite the record books once more.
