Rohit Sharma is synonymous with Mumbai Indians and all the success they’ve enjoyed in recent years.
Since joining the franchise in 2011, Rohit has captained Mumbai to all five of their IPL triumphs. But what’s lesser known about Rohit and his relationship with Mumbai, is that he actually holds the record for the best IPL bowling figures ever taken against Mumbai Indians.
Not widely known for his bowling – Rohit has 11 wickets for India from 364 international appearances – the Indian opener once turned a game on its head for his previous franchise, Deccan Chargers.
During the 2009 tournament – a campaign eventually won by the Chargers – Rohit was the star in both disciplines in an encounter between Deccan and Mumbai. With the bat, Rohit top-scored from No. 4 with 38 to help his side to a competitive, if unspectacular, total of 145-6.
After 15 overs of the run chase, Mumbai were still in a strong position at 100-4 with the asking rate below 10 runs per over. At this point, Deccan skipper Adam Gilchrist tossed the ball in Rohit’s direction who repaid Gilchrist’s trust in him with a match-winning spell. After conceding two singles and a leg-bye off the over’s first four deliveries, Rohit struck in consecutive balls bowling both Abhishek Nayar and Harbhajan Singh.
Rohit was made to wait an over before his hat-trick ball but that didn’t stop him from claiming it. Rohit fired one down the leg-side and the well-set JP Duminy could only feather it to Gilchrist behind the stumps. Two balls later, Rohit had his fourth. This time it was Saurabh Tiwary who had to depart after advancing down the pitch, not getting to the pitch of the delivery and having his bails dislodged by an obliging Gilchrist. Rohit had claimed four wickets in five balls.
Rohit finished with figures of 4-6. Staggeringly, they are still the best figures claimed against Mumbai Indians in the history of the tournament.
