When Rohit Sharma dons his pads, stands at the crease and stares down the square of the ground, you know it's going to be a show. The Indian opener is known around the world as the hitman, and he is arguably one of the most destructive white-ball hitters in the history of the game.
He has three stunning ODI centuries to his name, including his incredible 264 against Sri Lanka. His elegant pulling shots and towering centuries are synonymous with India's dominance in white-ball cricket.
However, as the first ODI match against New Zealand in Auckland recently showed us, even the best masterminds in the game can fall victim to the great leveller.
Auckland Dismissal and the End of a Streak: Rohit Sharma
On the back of some daunting conditions facing him at the top of the innings, Rohit fell early to Kyle Jamieson with a nick.
Whilst a zero always makes for some noise, this was a special zero due to how long it took Rohit to fall.
The Streak: Before his fall here, Rohit had gone 39 innings without a single zero.
Last Zero: His last duck came over 3 years ago, against Australia in Chennai whilst playing at the opening match of the World Cup.
Despite evolving his powerplay strategy to become ever more fearless, Rohit has been able to balance being ultra-aggressive with surviving at the start of the innings.
17 ducks in 292 matches
After his dismissal against the Black Caps, his keepers quickly pointed out he has now scored 17 ducks throughout his 50-over international career. Whilst 17 seems like a lot of ducks, when you consider he has played for 19 years and is a legendary player.
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ROHIT SHARMA: ODI CAREER SUMMARY
Matches – 292
Runs – 12,000+
Hundred – 35
Double Centuries – 3 (RECORD)
Ducks – 17 (5.8%)
In today's high-risk white-ball game, to have less than 6% of his games as ducks as an opening batsman is incredible. Rohit plays with an aggressive attacking mindset, looking to get ahead of the openers and take control of the game early. Due to the high risk involved in hitting aggressively early on with the new ball swinging, there will be times when he will nick it or miss-hit.
Why do these ducks happen to such a high-quality player?
Analysts have identified 3 main reasons why these ducks happen for Rohit.
Early Middle Order (Before 2013): Rohit wasn't a full-time opener before 2013; he would bat in the middle order in the 4th, 5th and 6th positions. This meant he would have a lot of different situations and ball conditions throughout the middle of the innings, leading to a few early ducks.
Aggressive Powerplay: Rohit doesn't tend to play 20-ball comebacks anymore. He goes on the attack early and hits aggressively within the first 10 overs. This can lead to him falling victim to LBW's, nicking it and hitting the ball up.
Left-Handed Angles: Like many great opening batsmen, he has struggled against some of the best left-handers who can swing the new ball back into him or nip it off the seam.
To put his 17 ducks into perspective, just take a look at the legendary players who are in the same bracket as him. Even the greatest icons in the history of the game have walked back.
| legend | Country | ODI Ducks |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 34 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | India | 20 |
| Virat Kohli | India | 18 |
| Rohit Sharma | India | 17 |