Daijiworld Media Network – Mullanpur

Mullanpur, May 30: Mumbai Indians’ stalwart opener Rohit Sharma etched his name into IPL history by becoming only the second batter after Virat Kohli to cross the 7000-run milestone in the league. Rohit reached the landmark in style during MI’s Eliminator clash against Gujarat Titans in Mullanpur, smashing a scintillating 81 off just 50 balls.

The knock was a redemption arc for the 38-year-old, who entered the match averaging a modest 15 this season. However, fortune favoured Rohit early on. He survived two chances a dropped catch by Coetzee and a missed edge by Kusal Mendis and capitalised with a brutal counterattack.

He went after Gujarat’s spinners with ferocity, dispatching Sai Kishore and Rashid Khan into the stands. His iconic six off Rashid in the 9th over saw him breach the 7000-run mark, becoming the second entrant in the elite club alongside his long-time teammate Virat Kohli.

Rohit's blistering innings ended in the 17th over when he fell to a slower ball by Prasidh Krishna, caught by Rashid. Yet, the damage was done MI ended at 228/5, largely propelled by Rohit’s innings.

With 7038 runs in 271 matches at an average of 29.82, Rohit now boasts two centuries and 47 fifties in the IPL. He also joined Chris Gayle in another elite club by crossing 300 IPL sixes, currently standing at 302, behind Gayle (357) and ahead of Kohli (291).