New Delhi, June 15: As the twilight of his One-Day International career approaches, Indian captain Rohit Sharma still has plenty to play for, with several significant milestones within touching distance in 2026.
At 39, the veteran opener may be nearing the end of an illustrious ODI journey, but his appetite for runs and records remains undiminished. Over the years, Rohit has established himself as one of the finest batters in the format, producing countless match-winning performances and redefining aggressive opening batting.
His three double centuries in ODIs, a feat unmatched in world cricket, remain among the greatest achievements in the history of the format and underline his dominance during his prime years.With India scheduled to play 11 more ODIs in 2026, Rohit has a realistic chance of climbing further up the record books.
The nearest milestone concerns his position among the leading run-scorers in ODI history. Rohit currently has 11,593 runs and needs only another 147 to surpass former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who finished with 11,739 runs in the format.
Given Rohit’s consistency and experience, crossing that landmark appears to be only a matter of time.
Another notable record involves the number of unbeaten innings in ODIs. Rohit has remained not out on 37 occasions, just two short of the tally of 39 shared by former Australia captains Ricky Ponting and Allan Border, as well as former Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene.
Three more unbeaten innings would see the Indian opener move ahead of all three legends.
While centuries and strike rates often dominate discussions, unbeaten knocks are equally significant as they reflect a batter’s ability to steer successful chases and guide the team home under pressure. Throughout his career, Rohit has repeatedly demonstrated that quality while maintaining his trademark attacking style.
The Indian captain is also on the verge of another impressive milestone in terms of half-centuries. Rohit has so far registered 61 ODI fifties and requires just four more to move past the tallies of Brian Lara, who scored 63 fifties, and former stars Mohammad Yousuf and Aravinda de Silva, who each amassed 64.
The significance of these milestones is heightened by the uncertainty surrounding Rohit’s future in the 50-over format. Every ODI appearance now carries added importance, with Indian fans aware that opportunities to watch one of the country’s greatest white-ball batters may be limited.
Although he no longer plays as much cricket as he once did, Rohit continues to possess the ability to change the course of a match with a single innings. (Agencies)
