Rohit notched up his seventh World Cup century against Afghanistan on Wednesday surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s record of six hundreds.
Hailing Rohit’s outstanding feat, former India head coach and captain Ravi Shastri said it speaks volume of the opening batter’s hunger and talent he possesses.
Shastri also drew a parallel between Sachin and Rohit saying it took six World Cups for the former batter to score six hundreds.
Rohit Sharma breaks Sachin Tendulkar’s this World Cup record, slams 31st ODI hundred against Afghanistan
“Seven hundreds across 8 years in World Cup cricket is a fabulous achievement. It’s not easy to have that hunger and come back. Even Sachin Tendulkar needed 6 World Cups. And this guy, in 3 World Cups in a span of 8 years has got 7 centuries,” Shastri said while speaking to the host broadcaster.
“It’s a lot and he is not finished yet. There are a lot of games left in the tournament and as an opening batter, early doze in the tournament with more league matches coming, if you start getting hundreds, then there is every chance you might add two or three,” he added.
Shastri said Rohit can make the biggest grounds in the world look small with his timing and power that consists of a deadly combination.
“There is one word you associate with Rohit Sharma which you cannot use with too many other players. When in full flight, he is unhurried in whatever he does. Even where there is intent and he is chipping down the track, he is in no hurry. The flow of the bat is the same – against pace and spin. He has got natural timing and power. It’s a deadly combination. When you have these two, you make even the biggest grounds in the world look small,” he added.
While Tendulkar recorded six centuries in as many editions of World Cups that he played — 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011, Rohit achieved the feat in only three: 2015, 2019 and 2023.
Rohit also holds the record of scoring most centuries (five) by any batter in a World Cup edition — a feat that he achieved in 2019 in England.
