Rohit Sharma in ODIs 2017: Six Hundreds

At the start of 2017, Rohit Sharma would have laughed off the thought of scoring more than 1000 runs in One Day Internationals (ODIs) in the calendar year, smashing six tons including a record-breaking third double hundred and more than 800 points in the ICC Player ODI Rankings.

But by the year-end, the stylish opener has done precisely that. Ever since his comeback to the Indian side during the 2017 Champions Trophy, he has repaid the faith of the team management by performing consistently.

The talented right-handed batsman came back from a lengthy injury lay-off in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Under his leadership, Mumbai Indians won the coveted title a record third time. Since then, the gifted batsman has smashed at least one hundred in every ODI series or tournament he has participated this year.

Let us have a look at the centuries he scored this year.

123* (129 balls) versus Bangladesh (Champions Trophy 2017)

India won the ICC Champions Trophy Semi Final against Bangladesh

A few fans wondered why the deputy skipper was rushed into the playing XI despite not looking fully recovered. His form with the bat and match fitness were called into question. But the lazy-looking batsman silenced all the noises by scoring over 300 runs in the tournament.

Against Bangladesh, in the semi-final, the opening batsman held up one end while the other batsmen scored freely. While anchoring the innings, the right-handed batsman scored 123 from 129 balls, which included 15 fours. The talented opener brought up his century with a six hooked off a short delivery.

India achieved the target of 265 with 59 balls remaining. The skipper Virat Kohli too joined the party by scoring a quick-fire 96. For smashing an unbeaten 123, the opener was awarded the man-of-the-match award.

124* (145 balls) and 104 (88 balls) v Sri Lanka (India tour of Sri Lanka 2017)

Rohit Sharma watching the ball as it races away to the boundary.

The third ODI of the five-match bilateral series will be remembered more due to the actions off the pitch rather than on it. Home fans caused a 35-minute stoppage by throwing plastic bottles onto the field in the 44th over.

The in-form stroke player made short work of the modest target of 218 by scoring his second century of the year. But it was not easy.

At one stage, India was tottering at 61/4. The opposition bowlers threatened to run through the strong Indian batting line-up, and in the process inflict plenty of embarrassment on them.

But the opener forged a 157-run unbeaten partnership with MS Dhoni which got the Indian team over the line. In his innings, the right-handed batsman hit 16 fours and two huge sixes.

In the fourth ODI, India batted first and hammered 375 runs in their allotted quota. The elegant top-order batsman smashed his second ton in as many matches.

Skipper Kohli too scored a quick-fired 131. After the first wicket fell in the second over, the captain and his deputy added 219 runs for the second wicket.

125 (109 balls) versus Australia (Australia's tour of India 2017)

India team in a huddle before the start of the innings.

With his 14th ODI hundred, Rohit guided India to a convincing seven-wicket win in the final ODI at Nagpur. India won the series 4-1 and remained at the top of the summit.

The hard-hitting batsman notched up his fourth ton of the year with a massive six against the fast bowling of Nathan Coulter-Nile. The stylish opener hit 11 fours and five monstrous sixes in his 109-ball innings.

The Indian openers added 124 runs for the first wicket. Sharma's 99-run partnership with skipper Virat Kohli for the second wicket took India to the brink of the victory.

147 (138 balls) versus New Zealand (New Zealand's tour of India 2017)

Shikhar Dhawan got out cheaply before Virat and Rohit were involved in a partnership.

Rohit scored his fifth ton of the year, his first against the Kiwis, in the third and final ODI at Green Park. The skipper Kohli also reached his 32nd century in the match and became the fastest player to score 9000 runs. India won the match by six runs and clinched the series 2-1.

Contrary to his usual game plan of settling in and going berserk, the in-form opener chose to attack right from the start. Surprisingly, the Kiwis reacted by bowling short to one of the most terrific pullers of the ball.

The plan obviously backfired as the talented batsman hammered 147 runs in quick time. India was all set to cross the 350-run mark but they could not accelerate in the death overs.

208* (153 balls) versus Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka's tour of India 2017)

Rohit Sharma enjoyed his third double century in style

Stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma rose to the occasion when it mattered the most. He scored his record-breaking third double ton to guide India to a series-levelling 141-run victory in the second ODI.

It was an innings of two-halves for the stylish batsman. The first 100 runs came in 115 balls while the next 100 took only 36 balls.

In an astonishing display of power hitting, the elegant batsman hit six sixes and 13 fours. In the 43rd over of the first innings, he hit four sixes in four legal deliveries in an over which went for 26 runs.

Riding on the skipper’s third double ton, India posted a mammoth 392 for four. In reply, Sri Lanka could only make 251.