On December 22, 2017, Rohit Sharma etched his name in T20I history by smashing a 35-ball century against Sri Lanka in
Indore, equaling the record set by David Miller just under two months prior. This feat underscored Sharma's prowess in
limited-overs cricket and highlighted his ability to accelerate scoring at will. The innings was part of a larger
pattern of dominance for Sharma, who has consistently showcased his capacity for high scores and impactful performances
The match itself saw Sri Lanka win the toss and elect to field, a decision they would soon regret. Sharma, along with
opening partner KL Rahul, launched an aggressive assault on the Sri Lankan bowlers from the outset. The pair reached 59
without loss in the powerplay, setting a strong foundation for a high-scoring innings. Sharma reached his half-century
in 23 balls, punctuated by seven fours and three sixes. He then shifted gears dramatically, reaching his century in the
Sharma's innings of 118 off 43 balls, which included 12 fours and 10 sixes, came at a strike rate of 274.4. Rahul
contributed 89 off 49 balls, featuring eight sixes and five fours. Together, they put on a partnership of 165 runs in
just 12.4 overs. India ultimately posted a total of 260 for 5 in their 20 overs.
In response, Sri Lanka struggled to maintain the required run rate, despite a 109-run partnership between Upul Tharanga
(47 off 29 balls) and Kusal Perera (77 off 37 balls). The Indian spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav then
took control, triggering a collapse in the middle overs. Chahal finished with 4 for 52, and Kuldeep claimed 3 for 52, as
Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 172 in 17.2 overs.
This century was Sharma's second in T20Is, adding to his tally of five centuries in the format by the time he retired.
He concluded his T20I career with 4231 runs from 159 matches, averaging 32.05 with a strike rate of 140.89. Sharma
retired from T20Is after leading India to the T20 World Cup title in 2024, with 205 sixes in 151 innings. His
consistency and high-impact innings have solidified his reputation as a key player in T20 cricket.