Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma on Thursday became the second Indian batsman after Suresh Raina to complete 5,000 runs in Twenty20 cricket. Rohit scored 30 runs off 21 balls as Mumbai Indians stunned defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders by five runs in a thrilling Indian Premier League encounter at the Wankhede Stadium.Â
The knock, that was studded with five fours, helped Rohit take his T20 runs tally to 5019 runs at an average of 32.59 in 199 matches to become the 10th player overall to achieve the milestone. Chris Gayle leads this list with 7362 runs. Raina has aggregated 5419 at an average of 34.29 in 199 matches.
Rohit, who holds the record for the highest individual score in ODIs - 264 -- hailed the "wonderful game" after Mumbai kept alive their hopes of making it to the IPL play-offs.
"When we were batting, the ball was stopping, odd ball was gripping and turning, so we didn't know exactly what the par score was. Normally it's a 180 wicket, but this was a different wicket, a little slow. It was a very nerve-wracking game. It went to the last over but we held our nerves, and it was a wonderful game for the spectators," Rohit said.
Other statistical highlights of Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders match:
- Rohit has scored 406 runs at an average of 33.83 in 13 innings to become the first batsman to amass 400 runs or more for Mumbai Indians in IPL 8. For the fifth time in an IPL season, he has hit 400 runs or more in the IPL.
- Rohit is the first batsman to complete 500 runs vs Kolkata Knight Riders -- his tally being 503 at an average of 41.91 in 16 matches. The previous highest was 482 by Raina at an average of 37.07 in 16 matches for Chennai Super Kings.
- Hardik Pandya (61 not out) has registered his first fifty in the IPL -- his second in Twenty20. His career-best in Twenty20 is 82 not out off 57 balls for Baroda vs Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at Wankhede Stadium on March 30, 2014.
- Yusuf Pathan (52 off 37 balls) has registered his tenth innings of fifty-plus - one hundred and nine fifties - in the IPL.
- Robin Uthappa has managed 1549 runs at an average of 26.25 in 64 matches, including six fifties - the most by a batsman in a losing cause in the IPL.
(With inputs from Rajesh Kumar)