Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has applauded Rohit Sharma for his classy century in India’s World Cup 2023 win against Afghanistan in Delhi on Wednesday (October 11). However, Afghanistan set India a 273-run target after opting to bat first as well. Rohit then smashed 131 off 84 at the top to help his side register a comprehensive 8-wicket win with 15 overs to spare as well.

Reviewing the game in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “When Rohit Sharma plays, only Rohit Sharma plays. It’s absolutely phenomenal. His playing style hasn’t changed at all – silken touch, poetry in motion. He has now scored seven centuries in ODI World Cups. No one else had scored more than six to date. The record of seven centuries has gone in his name, and he has done that in only 19 innings. Sachin Tendulkar is in the second spot. He took 44 innings, and he (Rohit) has done the job in 19. He has seven centuries in his last 13 ODI World Cup innings.”

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However, Rohit Sharma, who wasn’t picked for the 2011 World Cup, scored a hundred in India’s quarterfinal win against Bangladesh in the 2015 edition na. He then smashed five centuries in the 2019 World Cup in England before surpassing Sachin Tendulkar and his own record with his seventh hundred on Wednesday.

“He is a genius player. Fastest World Cup century by an Indian – he has done that job as well. He has hit a lot of sixes, no one hits more sixes than him. Even when he hits sixes, he hits them without force. The opposition player is also ready to get hit. The way he batted, there was no competition. Ishan Kishan felt for some time like Aakash Chopra would have felt with Viru (Virender Sehwag). He (Kishan) was taking singles and scored a run-a-ball 47, but Rohit Sharma batted differently. He is absolutely stellar,” Aakash Chopra concluded.