Rohit Sharma's 5 Best Innings In Test Cricket

Rohit Sharma’s sudden Test retirement has marked the end to an illustrious career. The veteran has left the cricket field with 4301 runs in 116 innings at an average of 40.57 and a strike rate of 57.05, thanks to 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries at the best score of 212 runs.

It started in 2013, three years than its confirmed start because of the batter picking up an ankle injury in the morning of the game against South Africa, at the Eden Gardens and ended last year during the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25.

Rohit Sharma's 5 Best Innings In Test Cricket

1. 127 vs England (Kennington Oval, 2021)

It was the fourth Test match at the Kennington Oval in South London during the 2021 series against England for India, who were in need of winning the Test to get back into the series after their defeat at the Leeds in Headingley.

The touring side was blown away for 191 runs in the first innings before the home side took a lead of 99 runs. Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul made a stable opening partnership of 83 runs as the Nagpur-born smashed 127 runs, scoring on 14 fours and one six.

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India’s former captain respected the conditions early in the inning and kept on leaving the balls from the beginning. Once he got set, the big shots started to come, and that put pressure on the Joe Root-led side.

2. 161 vs England (Chennai, 2021)

India was coming off their glorious victory of the BGT 2020-21 down under before facing an eye-opening defeat in the first Test at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Going into the second Test at the same venue, the pressure was huge on Rohit Sharma and the entire side.

The surface was helping the spinners as the home side lost three wickets, including Virat Kohli, inside the first 100 minutes. However, Rohit decided to show his aggressive batting against the spinners. He played the sweeps and pull shots against the spinners quite often and celebrated a fine 161-run knock in 231 balls, with the help of 18 boundaries and two sixes.

3. 120 vs Australia (Nagpur, 2023)

It was a very important series for India to win and qualify for the WTC 2021-23 final. After bundling out the visitors for 177 runs in the first innings, the blue brigade lost KL Rahul early in the innings. But Rohit Sharma stabilized the ship beautifully with a fine knock of 120 runs in 212 balls, with the help of 15 boundaries and two sixes.

He faced the two quality spinners and the pacers beautifully on a surface where the ball was stopping and holding on the track a bit. It was spinning big as the knock laid the platform for having 400 runs on the board.

4. 127 vs South Africa (Visakhapatnam, 2019)

It was the second innings of the opening Test in Visakhapatnam against South Africa five years ago. In reply to India’s 502 runs, the Proteas clubbed 431 runs, and the game was rolling towards a draw. It was important for someone to play the aggressive knock.

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Rohit Sharma stood up for his knock of 127 runs in just 149 balls at a strike rate of 85.23, thanks to 10 boundaries and seven sixes. That not only provided them a good score on the board but also offered the bowlers enough time.

5. 177 vs West Indies (Kolkata, 2013)

In reply to the West Indies’ 234 runs in the first innings, India was struggling at 156/6, losing MS Dhoni. But Rohit Sharma put on a fine stand of over 200 runs for the seventh wicket with Ravichandran Ashwin.

On his debut game, Rohit smashed a fine knock of 177 runs in 301 balls at a strike rate of nearly 60, shouldering 23 fours and one six. The home side went on to gain victory by innings and 51 runs to go 1-0 up in the series.