WATCH | Rohit Sharma hits 28 in 5 balls to become joint-fastest centurion in T20Is

India had already started strong putting up a massive 117/0 in the 10th over - the highest by India in 10 overs - and Sri Lanka’s chances of making a comeback in the T20I series already looked bleak. With the Indians looking unstoppable, the Sri Lankan skipper, Thisara Perera,  came to bowl with Rohit Sharma at 73 off 29 balls. Rahul, who was playing the stabilizing role with Rohit on a rampaging run, gave Rohit the strike off the very first ball.

Little did Perera know that he was up for a humiliating over. After missing the second ball of the over, which was fuller on the onside, Rohit started his onslaught. The third ball was a mistimed shot that went for a six over the long-on fence and Perera’s immediate attempt to stop his flow ended in a wide ball. 

The fourth one, a bit fuller, saw the same treatment as Rohit cleared the ropes at the same position. Seeing this, Perera decided to bowl outside the stumps but it was all in vain as Rohit sliced the ball over point for his third six of the over. With the Indian skipper at 91 off 33 balls, Miller’s seemingly unbreakable record looked well within site. With another six, over the cover region this time, Rohit was just three off the record with no extra ball to spare.

Perera decided to hand the ball to another veteran to stem the run flow but it proved inconsequential. After Rahul had taken a single of the first ball of the over, Rohit smashed the experienced Sri Lankan for a glorious boundary through the covers. Just as a Roman gladiator of old would have done, he raised both his arms to enjoy the spoils of his feat amidst the noise in the “Colosseum” in Indore.