Former India captain Rohit Sharma returned to the half-century mark in ODIs after a long wait, scoring his 62nd fifty during the third ODI against Afghanistan at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on June 20, 2026. The milestone came after a gap of 196 days, marking a significant moment in his comeback phase.
Rohit scored a composed 52 off 51 balls, playing a crucial role in India's chase. Opening alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, he helped lay a solid foundation with a fluent partnership that ensured India stayed firmly in control. His innings blended aggression with calculated shot selection, highlighting both experience and adaptability.
This was Rohit's first ODI half-century since December 6, 2025, when he had scored 75 against South Africa
in Visakhapatnam. The gap between the two fifties was largely due to India's packed Test schedule and limited ODI fixtures during that period. As a result, Rohit had not featured in the format for several months before the Afghanistan series.
Leading into this innings, Rohit had shown signs of regaining form. In the first ODI, he scored 16 before being run out, while in the second match he played an aggressive knock of 48, narrowly missing out on a fifty. His steady progression culminated in Chennai, where he finally crossed the milestone.
Beyond the numbers, the knock carried added significance as it demonstrated Rohit's fitness and rhythm following recent injury concerns. His ability to anchor the innings while maintaining scoring momentum underlined his continued importance at the top of the order.
With this innings, Rohit not only ended his wait for a half-century but also reaffirmed his role as a key figure in India's ODI setup as the team builds towards upcoming international challenges.
