India vs Afghanistan, World Cup 2023 stats: Rohit Sharma smashes multiple records with blistering 131 in Delhi

Rohit Sharma lit up Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday with a blazing 131 that helped India thrash Afghanistan by eight wickets and extend their winning start to the 2023 ICC World Cup. World Cup 2023: News | Schedule | Results | Points table Rohit brought up his century, his 31st in ODIs, in just 63 deliveries, and broke multiple records along the way. The ‘Hitman’ smashed 12 fours and four sixes en route to bringing up the three-figure mark, which he did with a boundary and a single off senior all-rounder Mohammad Nabi’s bowling in the 18th over.

In the process, Rohit broke the record for the fastest hundred by an Indian at ICC’s showpiece event. The record was previously held by the legendary Kapil Dev, who had brought up the milestone in just 72 deliveries during his iconic knock of 175 against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells in the 1983 World Cup. The century is also Rohit’s seventh in ICC World Cups, as a result of which he went past Sachin Tendulkar to become the batter with most centuries in the history of the elite tournament. Tendulkar had scored six centuries in as many World Cup appearances between 1992 and 2011 — two in 1996, one each in 1999 and 2003 and two more in 2011. Here are a few more milestones achieved in the India-Afghanistan game: — Rohit Sharma now has the most centuries in successful run chases in World Cups. His 131 vs Afghanistan was his third, while Gordon Greenidge, Ramiz Raja and Stephen Fleming have two each. — Rohit also went past 1,000 World Cup runs on Wednesday, taking 19 innings to become the joint-fastest to the milestone alongside David Warner. — Rohit also broke Chris Gayle’s record for most sixes across all formats. Rohit now has 555 sixes in the sport, two more than what the West Indian batting legend had collected.

— The 545 runs that were scored on Wednesday is the most in ODIs between India and Afghanistan. — Jasprit Bumrah registered his best figures in the ICC World Cup with a haul of 4/39. Rohit’s maiden World Cup hundred came in the 2015 quarter-final against Bangladesh in Melbourne, with Rohit starring in India’s 109-run win at ‘The G’ with a 126-ball 137. Rohit would then go on to score five centuries in the 2019 edition, breaking the record for most centuries in a single edition that was previously held by ex-Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara (4 in 2015). LIVE: India vs Afghanistan, ICC World Cup match in Delhi The fireworks off Rohit’s bat, meanwhile, would help Team India reduce the chase of the 273-run target set by Afghanistan to a cakewalk. The India skipper, who was among the three batters dismissed for a duck in their opening game against Australia in Chennai, scored the lion’s share of runs in the opening partnership that was ultimately worth 156. Ishan Kishan, who once again opened today in Shubman Gill’s absence, played second fiddle for the most part and later brought up the 150 for the Men in Blue with maximum the very next delivery after Rohit brought up his century. He would, however, be dismissed for a run-a-ball 47 by Rashid Khan the following over. Rohit too would fall victim to Rashid’s guide later in the innings, getting castled by the star leg-spinner while attempting a slog sweep to depart for an 84-ball 131. At that point however, the Men in Blue had already crossed the 200-mark and had plenty of wickets and overs to spare in the chase. Virat Kohli then brought up a second consecutive half-century, remaining unbeaten on 55 off 56 deliveries, and stitched an unbroken third-wicket partnership with Shreyas Iyer (25 not out) as India strolled to victory with 15 overs to spare. Watch: Fans troll Naveen-ul-Haq with ‘Kohli’ chants during World Cup match in Delhi Afghanistan had earlier posted a competitie 272/8 — a marked improvement on the part of their batters after getting shot out for 156 by Bangladesh in Dharamsala. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai led the way with knocks of 80 and 62 respectively, the two stitching a 121-run stand for the fourth wicket.