4 reasons why Rohit Sharma is an ODI great already

Consistency, hunger to score runs and temperament to bat through the innings have been the highlights of Rohit Sharma's ODI career in recent times. Ever since he started opening the batting for India in ODIs, he has transformed himself into one of the best openers to have played ODI cricket.

In 174 ODI innings, Rohit has scored 6594 runs at an average of 44.55 with 17 hundreds and 34 half centuries.

Rohit has scored runs in ODI cricket all over the globe against all opponents and has proved that he is not a flat track bully. Here is a look as to why the the 30 year old opener can be termed as an ODI legend:

#4. Three Double Hundreds

Rohit Sharma's 264 is the highest ever individual score in ODI cricket

Rohit Sharma is the only cricketer to have scored three double centuries in the history of ODI cricket. The first double century was against Australia in Bangalore on 2nd November, 2013 when he scored 209 runs in 158 balls with 12 boundaries and 16 sixes at a strike rate of 132.27. The Australian bowlers Clint McKay, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faulkner, Shane Watson and Xavier Doherty were taken to the cleaners and none of them were spared by the Mumbai batsman.

If that was not enough, the year 2014 saw another record-breaking double century from the bat of Rohit Sharma. The visiting Sri Lankan team were on the receiving end on 14th November, 2014 when the right-handed opener scored 264 runs in 173 balls which comprised of 33 boundaries and 9 sixes at a strike rate of 152.60. His individual score of 264 is the highest ever score in the history of ODI cricket and will definitely need someone to play a special innings to go past the score of 264.

The third double hundred was once again against the visiting Sri Lankan team in Mohali on 13th December, 2017. The innings saw Rohit Sharma score 208 runs in 153 balls with 13 fours and 12 sixes.

Till date only seven double centuries have been scored in ODI cricket and Rohit Sharma has scored 3 out of the said 7 double hundreds. The remaining four double centuries have been scored by Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Chris Gayle and Martin Guptill.

#3. Big Hundreds

Rohit has scored 5 150 plus scores in ODI cricket

Rohit Sharma makes sure that whenever he scores a hundred, it is a big one. Out of his 17 ODI centuries,he has crossed the score of 150 on 5 occasions, three of which have been double hundreds. Only 2 more batsmen in the history of ODI cricket have five score of 150 plus, players being Sachin Tendulkar and David Warner.

Rohit Sharma ensures that he does not throw his wicket after scoring a century and tries to carry his bat through the innings which reflects his temperament to play a long innings. Sharma is really dangerous in the last 10 overs of the innings and is a nightmare for the bowlers around the globe.

#2. Transformation from a middle-order batsman to an opener

Rohit has scored 4627 runs at an average of 53.80 including 10 centuries while opening the batting

Rohit Sharma has shown the cricketing world what it takes to transform from a middle-order batsman to an ideal opener. Ever since he has opened the batting for India, in 95 innings he has scored 4627 runs at a staggering average of 53.80 and a strike rate of over 90. 15 of his 17 hundreds and 22 of his 34 half centuries have came as an opener for India.

What makes the 30-year-old more special is his ability to attack in the powerplay overs, rotate the strike in the middle orders and also play the role of the aggressor in the death overs.

#1. Not a home track bully

Rohit has scored 4 hundreds in Australia

Rohit Sharma has an incredible record in India where he averages 59.71 in 48 innings with 7 hundreds and 11 half centuries.

His ODI record overseas isn't as impressive, though isn't as bad as people make it to be. In 126 innings, the 30 year old Mumbai batsman has scored 4086 runs at an average of 38.55 including 10 hundreds and 23 half centuries. Out of his 10 hundreds away from home, 4 have been in Australia, 2 in Zimbabwe, 2 in Sri lanka and 1 each in England and South Africa.

Thus Rohit has proved himself in all conditions be it a spinning track or a seaming track or a swinging track in difficult conditions all over the world.