Mumbai Indians Captain Rohit Sharma Joins Exclusive IPL Club

Rohit Sharma was back to a batting position where he has constantly excelled for Team India. Against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Wednesday, Rohit opened the Mumbai Indians innings, stroked the ball well and scored a 44-ball 62 as the defending IPL champions won with plenty to spare.

One of the most gifted batsmen in the world, Rohit is among the IPL's top run-getters. It is a surprise that Mumbai Indians have not opened with him from Day 1 of IPL 2016. After the six-wicket win against RCB, MI is unlikely to use their captain as a floater.

Rohit completed 3,500 runs in IPL when he was on 12. His 62 took his IPL run aggregate to 3550. He became the second batsman in IPL to score 3,500-plus runs after Suresh Raina, now captain of IPL debutants the Gujarat Lions. Raina had 3770 IPL runs before Thursday's game against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Rohit and his record of sixes

One of the cleanest hitters of the cricket ball, Sharma's game is studded with beautiful strokes all over the park. He achieved another landmark during the match against RCB. He scored three boundary sixes in this game.

His first six gave him an aggregate of 150 boundary sixes in IPL. He currently has 152 sixes. Rohit is the third batsman to score 150-plus sixes in IPL. Others are - Chris Gayle (230) and Raina (153).

Rohit's run aggregate in Twenty20 games now read 5,813. He is the ninth batman in the history of Twenty20 to total 5,800-plus runs. Others are Gayle (8840), Aussie Brad Hodge (6998), New Zealand's Brendon McCullum (6366), David Warner of Australia (6181), Raina (5998), Pakistan's Shoaib  Malik (5995), Aussie David Hussey (5960) and Kieron Pollard of the West Indies (5890).

Rohit's 62 against RCB was his 42nd fifty in Twenty20 games. He is the fourth batsman in the history of Twenty20 games to slam 42 or more fifties. Others are Gayle (72), Warner (52) and Hodge (48).

(With inputs from HR Gopala Krishna)