Indian captain Rohit Sharma quelled mounting speculation about his international cricket future with a gritty 73-run knock off 97 balls in the second ODI against Australia, anchoring the innings after early collapses on a challenging pitch. Arriving in Adelaide under pressure following a duck in the series opener in Perth, the veteran opener top-scored amid failures from Shubman Gill (9) and Virat Kohli (0), helping India post a competitive total against world-class pacers. The performance prompted former India batter Mohammad Kaif to declare, X: "Rohit shows he isn't going anywhere."

Facing intense social media scrutiny over his form and career longevity, Sharma adopted a measured approach, resisting his trademark aggression during the powerplay to build momentum gradually. His knock featured seven fours and two towering sixes—highlighting pull shots off Mitchell Owen that sailed into the stands—closing at a strike rate of 75.26. This was only his second fifty-plus score this year with a sub-100 strike rate, underscoring his adaptability on a tough surface. The innings not only steadied India but also saw Sharma surpass Sourav Ganguly to become India's third-highest ODI run-scorer with 11,249 runs in 275 matches at an average of 48.69, including 32 centuries and 59 fifties.

Now trailing only Sachin Tendulkar (18,426 runs) and Virat Kohli (14,181 runs) in India's ODI pantheon, Sharma's milestone adds to his post-2022 resurgence of 19 fifty-plus scores. In 2025 ODIs alone, he has amassed 383 runs in 10 innings at 38.30, with a century and two fifties—his best being 119. The 37-year-old's resilience echoes his evolution from explosive opener to tactical anchor, vital as India navigates a transitional phase ahead of major tournaments like the 2027 ODI World Cup.

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Kaif's endorsement captures the sentiment: despite the "too much social media chatter", Sharma's Adelaide effort—his highest in ODIs since July—reaffirms his indispensable role. With the series poised at 1-1, his leadership and batting prowess remain central to India's campaign Down Under, where high-stakes ODIs test endurance against Australia's pace battery. Fans and pundits alike will watch if this knock reignites the "Hitman" for the decider.

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