Top 3 IPL Knocks From Rohit Sharma For Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians' first IPL trophy came under Rohit Sharma's leadership
The 2013 year was the one where everything changed for a young Mumbaikar, Rohit Sharma. He started opening the innings for the Indian team in the same year and the rest you know is history. But one of the biggest stages of the Hitman's career was when the all-time great Ricky Ponting passed on the baton of Mumbai Indians' leadership to Rohit Sharma.
Prior to that year, Mumbai never had won an IPL trophy, and Rohit had pretty huge shoes to fill after Ricky Ponting. But in his maiden season as the captain, he led the team to their maiden IPL title in 2013 and since then Mumbai won four more IPL trophies and one Champions Trophy title.
Rohit Sharma has played over 100 IPL games for Mumbai Indians and has hammered over 5000 runs. OneCricket recalls his top three knocks for Mumbai Indians as he bids adieu to captaincy.
109* (60) vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Eden Gardens, 2012
When Rohit Sharma scored his maiden IPL ton in 2012
Back in 2012, Rohit used to bat in the middle-order and he scored one hundred in IPL which came in MI colours against Kolkata Knight Riders. We all know how much he loves playing at Eden Gardens, the only tons he has smacked in IPL, came at this very ground and that too for a winning cause.
While the Mumbai team still had the likes of Herschelle Gibbs and Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma still did something that overshadowed their presence in the team. He stitched a partnership of 180 runs for the second wicket with Gibbs, where the latter scored 66 of 58 deliveries and Rohit went on to smash 109 off just 60 deliveries, smashing the likes of Jacques Kallis and Brett Lee. In this innings, he hammered five sixes and 12 boundaries and helped MI post a great score of 182.
94 (52) vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Wankhede Stadium, 2018
When Rohit Sharma missed out on his hundred by six runs against RCB in 2018
There are many breathtaking innings from Rohit Sharma, but this knock against Royal Challengers Bangalore holds a special place in the hearts of Rohit's fans. Despite batting in the middle order, Rohit had to walk in the middle on the third ball of the first over, as Umesh Yadav sent back Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav on golden ducks.
Rohit not only had to score runs but also had to hold one end at least till the powerplay. Evin Lewis played his shots while Rohit assisted him and then Rohit also started smashing the likes of Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar Corey Anderson, Chris Woakes and Mohammed Siraj. Both the batters stitched a partnership of 108 runs, as Lewis got out making 66. Rohit did not stop and went on to score 94 off just 52 deliveries with the help of 10 boundaries and five maximums, helping the Indians put up a match-winning total of 213 runs.
50 (26) vs Chennai Super Kings, Eden Gardens, 2015 (Final)
When Rohit Sharma smashed a fifty in the IPL 2015 Final against CSK
This innings of 50 runs may not hold much importance on paper but considering the magnitude of the match and the contest which is known as the El Classico of the IPL, this was an innings equivalent to a century. After winning the 2013 IPL, Rohit led the team to another final in 2015 as well. The second title was more of a personal for him, as he built the team again after a few veteran cricketers retired.
In the final, Mumbai lost Parthiv Patel in the very first over and Rohit had to walk in. While he had Lendl Simmons by his side, he knew he needed to score runs and that too with a blistering strike rate to help the team put an above-par total. Sharma went on to smash the likes of Ashish Nehra, Ravi Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Pawan Negi, scoring 50 of just 26 deliveries, providing the team with the much-needed push. This push eventually helped MI post a big total of 202 runs and they went on to lift their second IPL title.
 "Saksham Chugh")
