Throwback to When Rohit Sharma Ignored MS Dhoni Advice During His First ODI Double Century

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Indian captain Rohit Sharma once revealed that he ignored then-skipper MS Dhoni's advice during his iconic maiden double century in the ODI format. This memorable knock came during India's clash against Australia in Bengaluru in November 2013.

Rohit, who was opening alongside Shikhar Dhawan, took on the Australian bowling attack after his team faced a minor collapse. During an Instagram Live session with Ravichandran Ashwin in 2020, Rohit recalled the fascinating moment.

After a solid start from the Indian openers, wickets began to fall quickly. Dhawan departed for 60, followed by Virat Kohli for a duck, and Suresh Raina (28) and Yuvraj Singh (12) couldn't hold the fort either. At 207/4 in the 34th over, India found themselves in a precarious situation when Dhoni walked in at No. 6.

As Rohit was already well-set at the crease, Dhoni, known for his calculated approach, advised him to play an anchor role, letting the captain take on the aggressive shots. Rohit, however, had other plans. Despite Dhoni's suggestion, he continued to bat aggressively, trusting his instincts to push the score further.

Recalling the moment, Rohit shared, "During the partnership, Dhoni kept on discussing things with me. He said, 'You are the set batsman, and we want you to bat till the 50th over. I will be the one to take chances.' But I had a different approach that day."

The risk paid off as Rohit went on to score a magnificent 209 off 158 balls, smashing 12 boundaries and a staggering 16 sixes. His efforts propelled India to a massive total of 383/6. Dhoni also played an explosive cameo, scoring 62 off 38 balls.

India eventually won the match by 57 runs, bundling Australia out for 326. This knock was the first of Rohit Sharma's three double centuries in ODIs. He followed up with another record-breaking 264 against Sri Lanka in 2014 at Eden Gardens and an unbeaten 208 against the same opponent in 2017.

Rohit's aggressive approach during his maiden double century not only marked a turning point in his career but also showcased his ability to rise to the occasion, even when going against the advice of a cricketing legend like MS Dhoni.