Four times Rohit Sharma scored a 100 in Australia in a losing cause

Rohit Sharma has been in the form of his life ever since he started to open the innings for India. He was promoted to open the innings during the 2013 Champions Trophy, before which he had only two centuries in the ODI cricket. Since then his form has only improved as he kept scoring centuries in almost every ODI series.

He also became India's most dependent limited-overs player along with Virat Kohli. He has scored 20 centuries since 2013 including three double centuries. Also, he has scored 150+ runs seven times which is most by any player in the ODI history. Rohit also has four centuries in T20 internationals, which is also most by any cricket player. He has become such a prolific batsman in the limited-overs in the last five years.

Rohit has many match-winning contributions in his ODI career. However, there are a few centuries that came in a losing cause. He has scored four centuries against Australia in Australia including the one he notched up today. Unfortunately, all of them came in a losing cause.

Let's see those four centuries.

#1 Rohit Sharma 138 at MCG

Indian opener scored his maiden ODI century in Australia in the 2015 tri-series. India won the toss and elected to bat first. The visitors lost three quick wickets with 59 runs on the board. Raina joined Rohit for the fourth wicket. Both added 126 runs for the fourth wicket. Apart from that, there were not many notable batting performances for India. Rohit Sharma scored 138 runs in 139 balls with nine fours and four sixes.

It helped India post 267 runs in 50 overs. Mitchell Starc was the pick of the bowlers for Australia as he took six wickets for 43 runs. Australia had to chase 268 runs and every top-order batsman for Australia got some runs under his belt. Aaron Finch missed a deserving century by just four runs. Australia reached the target in 49 overs. Unfortunately, Rohit's maiden ODI century in Australia ended in a losing cause.

**#2 Rohit Sharma 171* at Perth**

Rohit's 171* in Perth is the highest ever in a losing cause in Australia

India started the five-match ODI series in 2016 season at Perth against Australia. Rohit Sharma came into this series having scored two centuries in his last three ODI innings against Australia including his maiden double century. India elected to bat first after winning the toss. India lost Dhawan early and Kohli joined Rohit. They started accumulating the runs in a quick manner. They added 207 runs for the second wicket and Kohli missed his century by nine runs.

Rohit made sure India crossed the magical 300-run mark. Rohit scored an unbeaten 171* which is the highest ODI score by a visiting batsman in Australia. India posted 309 runs in 50 overs. Australia lost both Finch and Warner inside 25 runs but Steve Smith and George Bailey smashed Indian bowlers all over the park. Both of them scored a century and added 200+ runs for the third wicket. Smith missed 150 by one run and the home team chased down the target in the 50th over.

Rohit was unlucky yet again and recorded the unwanted record of scoring most ODI runs in an innings in a losing cause.

#3 Rohit Sharma 124 at Brisbane

Rohit Sharma smashed 124 against Australia at Brisbane

This was the second ODI of the 2016 series. India, yet again, won the toss, elected to bat first and lost Dhawan early. It was a similar story to what happened at Perth with slightly different numbers. Both Kohli and Rohit added 100 runs partnership for the second wicket before Kohli got run out for 59 which is something quite common when these two bat together. Rohit went on to score his second consecutive century of the series.

India once again crossed 300 runs. Chasing 300+ yet again, Australian openers gave them a dream start. Both the openers scored exactly 71 runs each. They added 145 runs for the opening wicket which made life easy for the middle-order. Australia chased down the target in 49 overs and yet another Rohit century went in vain.

#4 Rohit Sharma 133 at SCG

Rohit Sharma scored his 22nd ODI century against Australia at SCG

India came to the three-match ODI series after winning the dream Test series. On the other hand, Australia were hoping for some change in their fortunes. Australia batted first after winning the toss, some valuable contribution from Khawaja, Marsh and Handscomb helped them to post 288 runs in 50 overs.

Rohit Sharma was India's only hope as they lost Dhawan, Kohli and Rayudu with only three runs on the board. Rohit kept hitting sixes and kept the scoreboard moving along. He scored his 22nd Century in ODI cricket. During this innings, he smashed six sixes and broke Shahid Afridi’s record of scoring most ODI sixes against an opponent.

He now has 64 sixes against Australia in ODIs while Afridi had smashed 63 sixes against Sri Lanka which was the long-standing ODI record. He could have taken India home if he had got some support from the other end. It was his fourth ODI century which came in losing cause in Australia.