Rohit Sharma Creates ODI History Amid DRS Controversy
Former India captain Rohit Sharma scripted a monumental One-Day International record during the first match against South Africa on Sunday, only for his magnificent innings to conclude in dramatic fashion following a mid-pitch consultation with batting partner Virat Kohli.
The Pivotal LBW Decision
The match's turning point arrived during the 22nd over of India's innings. South African bowler Marco Jansen delivered a shorter-length ball that stayed unexpectedly low, striking Rohit around the back thigh as he attempted a pull shot.
When the Proteas appealed and the umpire raised his finger, Rohit immediately turned toward non-striker Kohli for consultation. After a brief discussion between the two veteran batsmen, they collectively decided against reviewing the decision using the DRS system.
Replays later confirmed their judgment was correct, showing the ball would have merely clipped the top of the stumps at worst, validating their decision to accept the umpire's call without challenge.
Record-Breaking Innings Cut Short
Rohit's departure for 57 runs from just 50 balls, including five boundaries and three massive sixes, ended what had been a commanding performance. However, before his controversial exit, the 38-year-old opener had already cemented his place in cricket history.
Earlier in his innings, Rohit launched two spectacular sixes off spinner Prenelan Subrayen over deep midwicket, drawing him level with Pakistan's Shahid Afridi at 351 ODI sixes. Moments later, he smashed a towering pull shot over deep square leg against Jansen to claim the record outright with his 352nd six.
Historic Achievement in Fewer Innings
Rohit Sharma's record-breaking feat becomes even more impressive considering he achieved this milestone in just 270 innings, far surpassing Afridi who required 398 matches to set the previous benchmark. This statistical dominance underscores Rohit's exceptional power-hitting capability throughout his ODI career that began in 2007.
The match also marked Rohit's 60th ODI half-century, further extending his legacy as one of India's most prolific limited-overs batsmen. Despite the anticlimactic end to his innings, social media platforms buzzed with discussions about both his historic achievement and the intriguing DRS decision that concluded his stay at the crease.
