Ultimate XI ODI Profile: Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma’s career started slowly. He was clearly a talented player but never found that consistency all great players possess. Over the last few years though, that part of his game has come on in leaps and bounds and India can count on him to contribute significantly to most of their totals. That consistency came when he moved to the opening position in 2012. Since then, ‘hitman’, has shown a particular penchant for scoring double hundreds. In fact, as an ODI opener, facing the first delivery, he averages 56, while as the man at the non-striker’s end when the first ball is bowled to India, he averages 64.84, both higher than his career average of 49.27. Sharma is for want of a less common phrase, easy on the eye, and uses timing and classic intent to get his runs, however, he has plenty of power too. Sharma has scored almost half the number of total double hundreds the ODI game has seen in its history, his 209, 264, and 208 not out, equivalent to three of the seven scored to date. The West Indies’ Chris Gayle, India’s Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar, along with New Zealand’s Martin Guptill, are the only other players to score ODI double hundreds, each of them doing so once.

Career Statistics

Full name: Rohit Gurunath Sharma

Born: April 30, 1987, Bansod, Nagpur, Maharashtra

Major teams: India, Air India, Deccan Chargers, India A, India Blue, India Green, India Red, India Under-19s, Indian Board President's XI, Indian Oil Corporation XI, Mumbai, Mumbai Cricket Association President's XI, Mumbai Cricket Association XI, Mumbai Indians, Mumbai Under-19s, Rest of India, West Zone

Playing role: Top-order batsman

Batting style: Right-hand bat

Bowling style: Right-arm offbreak

ODI Career: India (2007-present)

Mat    Inns    NO     Runs     HS     Ave      BF          SR           100s      50s         4s        6s     

224      217    32      9115      264    49.27   10250     88.92           29       43           817      244