IND vs SA: Rohit Sharma Scripts History, Joins Elite 20,000-Run Club With Stylish Knock in Vizag

Rohit Sharma etched his name deeper into cricketing history on Saturday after becoming the latest entrant to the prestigious 20,000 international runs club.

The milestone came during India's chase in the third ODI against South Africa at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, where Rohit showcased his trademark timing and elegance before finishing with a fluent 75 off 73 balls.

Opening the innings alongside young partner Yashasvi Jaiswal, the Indian skipper reached the landmark when he moved to 27 during the chase of 271. The moment drew applause from the stadium as Rohit became only the 14th batter ever - and the fourth from India - to breach the 20,000-run barrier in international cricket.

Rohit's journey to the landmark has been unique.

After stepping away from T20Is following India's World Cup triumph in the Caribbean and retiring from Test cricket earlier this year with 4301 runs, his focus has shifted solely to ODIs. Yet, his scoring has shown no signs of slowing down. Saturday's knock, studded with seven fours and three towering sixes, also helped him surpass former South Africa captain AB de Villiers to become the 13th-highest run-scorer in international cricket.

India enjoyed a dominant start to their chase thanks to the 155-run opening stand between Rohit and Jaiswal. The partnership put India firmly in control before Keshav Maharaj dismissed Rohit in the 26th over.

Earlier in the match, South Africa appeared well-placed after Quinton de Kock hammered his 23rd ODI century, pushing the visitors toward a competitive total. However, India mounted a strong comeback led by Prasidh Krishna, whose fiery spell dismantled the middle order, reducing the Proteas from 168/2 to 199/5. Kuldeep Yadav then polished off the tail with an excellent 4/41, restricting South Africa to 270.

Rohit's milestone and match impact added yet another chapter to his already storied career - a reminder that even as his roles evolve, his class remains constant.