Indian captain Rohit Sharma has etched his name into the record books, becoming the latest player to reach a century of catches in One-Day Internationals. This impressive feat places him among an elite group of Indian cricket legends, showcasing not just his batting prowess but also his exceptional fielding skills.
Rohit now stands alongside cricketing stalwarts who have achieved this significant milestone as fielders for India in ODIs:
- Virat Kohli: 163 catches
- Mohammad Azharuddin: 156 catches
- Sachin Tendulkar: 140 catches
- Rahul Dravid: 124 catches
- Suresh Raina: 102 catches
- Rohit Sharma: 100 catches (and counting!)
Earlier in the match, Australia won the toss and opted to bat, continuing India’s unfortunate streak of 18 consecutive ODI toss losses. Despite this, India fought back strongly in the field to bowl out the hosts for 236 runs.
India’s bowling was led by Harshit Rana, who claimed four crucial wickets. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar effectively tightened the middle overs and contributed with important dismissals. Australia had initially started well, with Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head forming a 61-run opening partnership, but disciplined bowling and sharp fielding quickly brought India back into the game.
Among the standout fielding moments, Virat Kohli took a brilliant reflex catch at backward point to dismiss Matthew Short. However, the most memorable moment belonged to Shreyas Iyer, who, running from point, perfectly timed his dive to catch Alex Carey, although he bravely hurt his left side in the process. Axar Patel also made a significant impact by removing Marsh with a delivery that breached the batsman’s defense. Despite Matt Renshaw’s resilient knock of 56 for Australia, India’s bowlers ensured the hosts could not build consistent partnerships, successfully keeping their total in check.