Top 3 knocks by Rohit Sharma in Asia Cup

The current India skipper and one of the modern-day batting greats, Rohit Sharma is turning 37 today. The ‘Hitman’ is the second leading run-scorer for India across all the formats in the currently active cricketers following his fellow teammate and former India skipper Virat Kohli. Notably, the Nagpur-born star Mumbai batter is known for his historic three double centuries in ODI cricket. 

Apart from that, Rohit has also played some crucial knocks in the major ODI tournaments in his illustrious career of almost 17 years since 2007. 

With that said, here we’ll have a look at the top 3 knocks played by Rohit Sharma in the Asia Cup since he started playing for India in the continental tournament 16 years back in the year 2008. 

58 runs off 71 balls – India vs Pakistan (Asia Cup 2008) 

The arch-rivals, India and Pakistan were taking on each other in the super-4 game of the Asia Cup 2008 at the National Stadium in Karachi. The visitors India won the toss and decided to bat first. Batting first, India posted a total of 308 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in the allotted 50 overs. 

Amidst some crucial knocks for India in the first innings, the then-young middle-order batter Rohit Sharma scored one of the two half-centuries, alongside skipper MS Dhoni. Sharma scored 58 runs off 71 balls, with 7 fours. It can be ranked in the third spot while talking about Rohit’s top knocks in his Asia Cup (ODI) career. 

69 runs off 73 balls – India vs Sri Lanka (Asia Cup 2010) 

India and Sri Lanka took each other in the 6th match of the Asia Cup 2010, 14 years back. Both teams played this match in Dambulla. The hosts’ skipper Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first. Batting first, India were bundled out at the score of 209 runs in 42.3 overs. 

But there was a young middle-order batter who stood strong for India amidst this batting collapse. He was none other than Rohit Sharma, who scored crucial 69 runs off 73 balls, with 7 fours to help India go past the total of 200 runs. However, his knock went in vain as Sri Lanka comfortably won this match by 7 wickets. 

111* runs off 119 balls – India vs Pakistan (Asia Cup 2018) 

It would not be an exaggeration if we call this match a one-sided affair; the arch-rivals India and Pakistan faced each other in the 3rd match of the super-4 stage during the Asia Cup 2018. Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed won the toss and decided to bat first; batting first, the men in green posted 237 runs on the board for the loss of 7 wickets in the allotted 50 overs. 

While chasing the target, the star opening pair of the then-skipper Rohit Sharma and senior southpaw Shikhar Dhawan single-handedly took the match away from Pakistan, stitching an amazing opening partnership of 210 runs for the first wicket. Skipper Rohit Sharma scored a decisive century, hitting 111 runs off 119 balls, with 7 fours and 4 sixes.