Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal shared a magnificent 170-run opening partnership today in the 3rd ODI against Afghanistan at Chennai. This massive 100+ run stand helped India tighten its grip on the match.
The atmosphere at the MA Chidambaram Stadium was buzzing. Fans traveled from far and wide to watch India gun for a clean series sweep. The two openers posted 170 runs in just 22.5 overs before a wicket finally fell. They scored at a blistering rate of over 7.4 runs per over. Former skipper Rohit Sharma was at his vintage best. He smashed 79 runs off just 69 balls, treating the crowd to his signature pull shots and elegant drives. He was eventually caught in the deep off Mohammad Nabi's bowling.
The partnership also pushed Rohit Sharma into an elite group of cricket legends. He now sits at 71 career century partnerships in ODI history, chasing down the legendary Ricky Ponting who sits at the top with 72 partnerships. Ponting, Rohit did this by opening the batting, meaning he had to face the shiny new ball and the fastest bowlers right from the very first delivery. Sharma is yet behind the God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar who has 99 century partnerships, who is followed by Virat Kohli who sits comfortably at the second position with 86 ODI, century partnerships. Rohit Sharma is also the only player in the history to have two different partnerships across 15+ century marks.
Pulled to perfection! 🤌 🎥 Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma's class on display en route to a 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣-run stand 🔝 Updates ▶️ https://t.co/kHgF4bqTg3#TeamIndia | #INDvAFG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/5M8oH4lwUy
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 20, 2026
Rohit Sharma rises to third position to have most 50+ scores for India in ODI
Rohit Sharma has officially risen to the third position for the most 50+ scores for India in ODI cricket history.By smashing his fluent 79 runs in Chennai on 20th June 2026, the former Indian captain secured his 95th career fifty-plus score in ODIs (33 centuries and 62 half-centuries). This monumental achievement breaks his tie with Rahul Dravid, who finished his career with 94 fifty-plus scores. Rohit played his first six years in cricket as a middle-order batsman with mixed success. Almost 80 of his 95 fifty-plus scores have come after he permanently moved to the opening spot in 2013.
At the absolute top of the list for most 50+ scores for India in ODIs, sits Sachin Tendulkar, who leads the nation with an astonishing 154 fifty-plus scores across his iconic career. Following closely behind is Virat Kohli with 131 fifty-plus scores, showcasing his incredible modern-day dominance.Rohit Sharma has now firmly secured his place on the podium in third position, amassing 95 fifty-plus scores. This huge milestone officially edges him ahead of the legendary Rahul Dravid, who accumulated 94 fifty-plus scores. Rounding out this elite top five is former captain Sourav Ganguly, who finished his historic career with 93 scores.
