Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma shrugged of their poor run of form with a record-breaking opening partnership on Sunday against Australia in the fourth ODI at Mohali.
Both Dhawan and Rohit, the former in particular, had been struggling for runs in this series but the Indian openers rose to the occasion on a placid batting track in Mohali after Indian captain Virat Kohli opted to bat first.
The prolific Dhawan-Rohit pair
Dhawan and Rohit put a 193-run opening stand on Sunday to break their own record of the highest opening partnership for India against Australia in an ODI. Previously, the pair had put on 178 against Australia in 2013 at Nagpur.
The duo also became the first Indian opening pair to score 1000 runs against Australia in ODIs once they strung a 62-run partnership.
This was the second highest partnership in ODIs of Rohit and Dhawan. 210 is Their highest partnership in ODIs. They did that against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2018 in Dubai. Rohit and Dhawan now have 16 century stands in ODIs – the second most in Indian cricket after Ganguly and Tendulkar’s tally of 26.
Dhawan's career-best and 10,000 List A runs
Dhawan ended up scoring 143 off 115 balls – his highest score in ODI cricket, bettering his World Cup 2015 feat against South Africa at Melbourne. Dhawan hit 3 sixes and 18 fours in his innings.
Dhawan also brought his 10,000 List A runs (domestic, India A and India 50-over games) in the process. He became the 11th India to do so.
Hitman or Sixman?
Rohit Sharma, who missed his hundred by 5 runs, also made his mark in the 4th ODI. Rohit on Sunday, got past Dhoni to become the highest six hitter for India in ODIs.
Rohit, who hit two sixes in his 95-run knock, broke Dhoni’s record when he rocked back to a short delivery from Adam Zampa to deposite it deep in the stands. Rohit now has 218 sixes in ODIs.
Earlier, Rohit equalled Dhoni’s tally of 217 sixes by smashing Jason Behrendorff straight over his head in the 10th over of Indian innings.