Rohit Sharma’s unbeaten 60 off 41 in the fifth T20I against New Zealand at the Bay Oval was his 25th score of fifty or more, which is the most for anyone in the format. However, he couldn’t carry on for long after, as he was forced to leave the field due to some discomfort to his calf.
Rohit had replaced Virat Kohli in the playing XI for the final game of the series, after the regular skipper opted to rest in a bid to give young Sanju Samson a longer run. Samson retained his opening slot but failed yet again, following which, Rohit, for only the second time in his T20I career, walked in to bat at No.3. The right-hander, playing his 100th innings in the format, got going straight away and took India to a position of strength with a solid 88-run stand with Rahul.
Rohit Sharma has limped off the field after having scored 60 off 41.
It seems like it’s his calf that’s causing trouble. #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/mhp1JJkSxt
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) February 2, 2020
Rohit got to his half-century off 35 balls, thereby becoming the only batsman to 25 scores in excess of fifty in T20Is. The 32-year old is second in the run-scoring charts currently with an aggregate of 2,773 runs from 108 games, second only to Kohli. He also leads the count for most hundreds, having scored four of them, which includes the joint fastest off 35 balls.
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He looked in some pain not too long after reaching his fifty, but decided to carry on and hoicked Ish Sodhi for a soaring six over deep midwicket. Two dots followed and he opted to walk off the field after the pain became unbearable. His 41-ball stay included three fours and as many sixes.
India eventually finished at 163-3 at the completion of 20 overs and KL Rahul took over the leadership role in Rohit’s absence in New Zealand’s innings.
