The T20I captain of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Muhammed Waseem, has rewritten the record books of the shortest format during the tri-series against Afghanistan at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. His blazing half-century, despite the defeat to the Rashid Khan-led side, broke the former Indian T20I captain Rohit Sharma’s record for most sixes as T20I skipper.

Waseem, during his knock of 67 runs in just 37 deliveries, drilled six sixes to break the Mumbai batter’s record. His record-breaking six came in the third over of the run chase against Mujeeb UR Rahman. At present, the right-handed batter has clubbed 110 sixes in 54 games as the captain of the side. Rohit led the previous record with 105 runs over boundaries from 62 games as the captain of the shortest format.

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No other batter has 100 sixes as a T20I captain. Among the current leaders of the format, Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza comes the closest with 59 runs over boundaries as the T20I captain in 42 games. However, it wasn’t a pretty evening for the UAE, which faced defeat against Afghanistan.

Muhammed Waseem breaks Rohit Sharma and Martin Guptill’s T20I records

Along with Rohit, Waseem has also left the former New Zealand opening batter, Martin Guptill, in the T20Is. He became the second-leading six-hitter in the shortest format. He went past Guptill, who hit 173 over boundaries in 122 T20Is, as Waseem has now nailed 176 sixes from just 80 games. The top spot in this table belongs to Rohit, who has 205 sixes from 159 games.

Waseem overtook Rohit on another list. He is now second on the list of leaders with the most fifty-plus scores in the T20Is. This was his 17th such knock and beat Rohit and the former Kiwi leader, Kane Williamson, who had 16 such scores. The only batter ahead of them is Pakistan’s former T20I captain, Babar Azam.

“Not happy to be honest with my work because I could not finish the game. We will learn from today as well. We are always giving runs in the last ten overs. Today as well, we will take the positives and then look at where we are giving away boundaries and hopefully work on it.” The UAE captain expressed in the presentation.

The left-arm pacer of the Indian team and the Chennai Super Kings, Khaleel Ahmed, has shed light on the greatness of the ODI captain of the Blue Brigade, Rohit Sharma, who helped the pacer incredibly during his early days. He expressed his desire to see the Mumbai batter in national colors for the next 10 years. 

Khaleel, who has picked up 31 wickets in 29 innings of the white-ball cricket for India at an average of over 30, along with the best bowling figure of 3/13 in an innings, looked back at the time when Rohit had a word with him in the dressing room in Rajkot in 2019.

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“I feel Rohit Sharma should play for the next 10 years for the good of Indian cricket, and that’s my personal feeling. In 2019, we were playing a series against Bangladesh in Rajkot, once I didn’t have a great day and only got one wicket, so he came to me and spoke to me personally in the dressing room.” The Rajasthan-born expressed during a recent interview on Revsportz. 

Khaleel Ahmed drops shocking revelation on Rohit Sharma playing for next 10 years

Rohit is currently the fourth leading run-getter for the national side with 11168 runs in 265 innings at an average of 48.76 and a strike rate of nearly 93, thanks to 32 centuries and 58 half-centuries at the best score of 264 runs against Sri Lanka.

“The team was leaving the stadium, and he stayed back to have a one-on-one with me and told me how I should be. He told me that I am unaware of my own capabilities. When we were getting out of the stadium, all the fans were screaming for Rohit bhai, and he told me that ‘all of this should happen for you too’ and that I should wish that for myself and stay positive.” Khaleel shed light.

“A captain like him, talking to me like that after the match, made me wonder how kind a person he was. I’ve seen him do the same thing with Rishabh. ‘What a man! What a captain!’ I would say. People don’t even look at you when you have a bad match, but as a captain, he is something else.” The left-arm pacer addressed, besides revealing how Rohit looked fully fit at CoE in Bengaluru.  

The India and Lucknow Super Giants’ spinner, Ravi Bishnoi, has shared his views on the Test retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Both took retirement in a span of a week before the five-match Test series against England away from home. Both also made the same decision after winning the T20 World Cup 2024.

Bishnoi, who appeared on the podcast Game Changers on YouTube, released a video where the spinner shared his reaction to the retirement of the legendary veteran duo. Virat Kohli finished with 9230 runs in Tests at an average of 46.85, while Rohit ended with 4301 Test runs in 116 innings at an average of 40.57.

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“It is actually shocking, because you always want to see them retire from the field. For such big legends, you want them to leave while still being on the field; that looks much better. And what both of them have done for India, in my view, there is no one even close.” Ravi Bishnoi expressed on the YouTube channel.

Watch: Ravi Bishnoi aims to see farewell match for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

Rohit and Kohli have been playing the 50-over format for the national side. Their last competitive game came in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 as they eye a feature in the three-match ODI series against Australia down under. Both are trying to stay available for the upcoming ODI World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

“You want them to get a good farewell, but maybe they will get that in ODIs as well, whenever they leave, whenever they want to. Because no one can tell you when you will retire. But it was shocking when both of them retired, because suddenly you feel like two spots have become empty, who will come and fulfill that?” Ravi Bishnoi addressed.

Bishnoi also shed light on the young RR batter, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who impressed the spectators and the fans with a fine century. “It is challenging against everyone now, but his talent really deserves appreciation. Right now, he is doing really, really well. You must have seen in England also, he broke the age-group record by scoring the fastest 100, and in the IPL also, he scored a 100 in 34–35 balls.” Bishnoi concluded.

Indian ODI captain Rohit Sharma was present at the new BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru along with a few other Indian cricketers to undergo their fitness test. 

Rohit Sharma is now active in only the ODI format for the national team. While he retired from T20I cricket last year just after winning the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 trophy, he retired from Test cricket this year. Before participating in the IPL 2025, Rohit played his last international cricket match during the Final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where India won the title under his leadership, and Rohit won the Player of the Match award. 

Rohit Sharma's next assignment for the Men in Blues will be the ODI series against the hosts Australia in mid-October, where they will play a three-match ODI series before a five-match T20I series in the same tour. 

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Is Rohit Sharma eyeing the ODI World Cup 2027?

According to a source information, the present Indian ODI captain is completely fit. Rohit isn't only looking at the upcoming ODI series in Australia; he is also looking way ahead. It means that he can eye the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, which South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia will host in October-November 2027. 

The source said, "Rohit Sharma is in very good shape and looking very fit. And he is not only focused on the Australia series but also on what’s ahead."

Under Rohit Sharma's leadership, Team India narrowly missed lifting the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 trophy at home. While they reached the Final of the tournament by winning all the matches of the tournament, they lost the Final against Australia.

Virat Kohli isn't present in the fitness test 

Meanwhile, another Indian legendary cricketer, Virat Kohli, who is also active in only the ODI format, has no news about his status for the fitness test. However, he recently shared a social media picture to confirm to everyone that he is getting ready to serve his nation once again.  

India’s veteran ODI captain, Rohit Sharma, is featuring in only one format in international cricket, having already taken retirement from the shortest and longest formats of the game in the span of a year. His T20I retirement came after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup, and the Test retirement shocked the fans just before the Test series against England.

The Nagpur-born will be among the seven players to undergo the pre-season fitness test at the Center of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, as he aims to be part of the Blue Brigade during the three-match ODI series against Australia down under in October. Along with him, several Indian players are also likely to hit the ground before the Asia Cup 2025.

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India’s Test captain, Shubman Gill, premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj, and Shardul Thakur are also expected to be part of the group. A DEXA scan, used to test bone density, will be part of the pre-season test along with the blood tests.

Rohit Sharma to undergo fitness test at BCCI’s CoE before Australia series

However, there is no charity on the other veteran batter of the national side, Virat Kohli, who, just like Rohit, has also hung up his shoes from the T20Is and Tests. He would also need to undergo the fitness tests before the Australia series, as he will take the field for the first time since the end of the IPL 2025, playing for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru when they won their maiden title.

“All players have to undergo a pre-season fitness Test, it’s mandatory as per the contract. These tests help the COE understand the areas the players have to work on or where they are lacking. As there was a big break (after the England Test series), the players were given sets of exercises to do at home.” The BCCI official, as quoted by the Indian Express.

“Look, we take these tests (Yo Yo, sprint, power, Dexa) as part of our assessments. It helps us get an idea about an athlete’s condition. For us as professionals, we are responsible for presenting benchmarks that are challenging yet achievable after having reviewed the team’s fitness standard.” India’s former strength and conditioning coach, Soham Desai, revealed why these programs are vital for the players before any series.

Cricket has long ago gone past its sporting confines and is now a cultural and digital phenomenon (especially on social media). According to HypeAuditor's latest rankings, three Indian sports stars are among the three most influential cricketers on Instagram - Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Rohit Sharma. Each has a legion of followers, engagement, and global reach as cricketing icons, and subsequently normalizes conversations regarding topics that have nothing to do with the game.

Virat Kohli - The World's Leader

What else can be said about Kohli? Firstly, he is not only one of the greatest batters of his generation, but he is also a true global sporting brand. Virat Kohli has over 270+ million followers, and manages to stay relevant to an audience that goes well beyond his cricket brand. Kohli's posts - whether the subject is fitness, family, collaboration with a brand, or just about anything – generate enormous engagement. However, the real asset to Kohli's is the most considerable follower account - he connects probably the best with his fans. It represents the true value of an athlete's standing in the Instagram follower lists, as nothing is more valuable than engaging fans with authentic storytelling usage. Kohli wears the 'crown' - he is the king of cricketers on Instagram.

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Hardik Pandya – The Style Icon

Second place goes to India's flamboyant all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Pandya is known for his resilient style of play and equal daring personality off the field. He has built a reputation as a youth icon by exhibiting on his Instagram lifestyle, which encompasses everything from stylish attire and family moments to clips of his journey on the cricket field. With millions of young followers hanging onto his every post, Pandya has become both an entertainer and influencer.

Rohit Sharma – The People’s Captain

Rounding out the top three is India's captain Rohit Sharma. Sharma, nicknamed "Hitman" due to his batting feats, has built a strong digital following for himself. He cleverly uses his Instagram to provide a mixed bag of updates from his personal life to his batting highlights while giving fans an insight into what type of person and leader he is, beyond the boundary. It is his relatability and calm character, both on and off the field, that draw an audience and strengthen his influence in the digital domain.

Together, Kohli, Pandya, and Rohit demonstrate how one can integrate cricket and social media in today's world. Away from the runs and milestones, they are creating culture, style, and brand narrative through their influence worldwide. Their growth in popularity and as Instagram influencers speaks volumes about Indian cricket's unprecedented appeal and influence to connect fans from any corner of the world.

India’s ODI captain, Rohit Sharma, hasn’t been in action since the end of the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Mumbai Indians, while his previous assignment for the Blue Brigade came during the final of the Champions Trophy against New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. 

The Nagpur-born is reportedly going to an acid test period where he would need to show his 50-over batting skills during the Australia series down under to keep himself in the selection process for the national side. Rohit will report to the Centre of Excellence (CoE) of the BCCI in Bengaluru on September 13 for fitness assessment tests, as the Times of India (TOI) has reported.

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Rohit will need to go through the fitness examinations. The veteran will also be based for two to three days and will also participate in the facility to fine-tune his preparations for the white-ball tour in November. The opening fixture will be played on October 19 at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

Rohit Sharma to report at BCCI’s CoE on September 13 for fitness tests

The ground is also staging the ongoing Duleep Trophy final at its main ground (A) from September 11-15, which means the right-handed batter will need to undergo the fitness tests and train at the different ground at the same facility. Apart from the well-known Yo-Yo test, the Mumbai star will also need to go through the newly proposed Bronco test at CoE.

If the reports are to be believed, there are chances of Rohit and Virat Kohli turning up potentially for the India A series in the ODIs against Australia A, which will be played at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur on September 30, October 3, and 5. The series will be a great platform for these batters to get them in shape.

Rohit, who was in tremendous form during the Champions Trophy, used his aggression to play the big shots during the first six overs of the innings to get them to a flying start. In the final against the Kiwis, he collected 76 runs in 83 balls and was named the Player of the Match.

The former Indian all-rounder, Irfan Pathan, has leaked his conversation with the current ODI captain of the Blue Brigade, Rohit Sharma, regarding the latter’s participation in the upcoming ODI World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Under his captaincy, they won the title of the Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai, beating New Zealand.

Rohit Sharma has smashed 302 runs in eight ODI innings in the ongoing year at an average of 37.75 and a strike rate of 108.24, with the help of one fifty and one century. In 2023, the right-handed batter smashed 1255 runs in 26 innings at an average of 52.29 and a strike rate of 117.07 with two centuries and nine fifties.

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“I’ve spoken to Rohit Sharma and he’s very keen about fitness. Then, Virat, I am sure, is very keen as well with the way he has been seen practicing in England. I have also seen a statement from Mohammed Shami which says that he’s very keen too.” The Baroda all-rounder, Irfan Pathan, expressed on Revsportz.

 Irfan Pathan leaks personal conversation with Rohit Sharma on ODI World Cup 2027

Overall, Rohit has smashed 11168 runs in the 50-over format in 265 innings at an average of 48.77 and a strike rate of 92.80, thanks to 32 centuries and 58 half-centuries at the best score of 264 runs against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Pathan believes the game will make the final decision for the Mumbai batter.

“The keenness is important from the player’s point of view, so this is a great thing about them – that they are in touch and working on their fitness as well. If I’m looking at things as a broadcaster, I think the game time they get regularly will decide their presence in the World Cup 27.” Irfan Pathan shed light.

Even if Rohit finds the chance to feature in this World Cup 2027, there is no guarantee of the veteran leading the national side. Shubman Gill could end up being the frontrunner to captain the Blue Brigade during the assignment. Along with Rohit, the same inspection has been around the future of Virat Kohli in the ODI cricket. 

Even though the Champions Trophy 2025 winning captain of the Indian side, Rohit Sharma, is approaching the end of his career, he still holds a special place with love and affection among the passionate fans in India and across the world. Amidst all the speculations for the veteran, he is still getting admiration from the supporters.

One such fan girl appeared before the Nagpur-born with a stunning portrait of the cricketer, who enjoyed the moment of her lifetime when the Indian legend met her personally and thanked her with the most wonderful gesture, as Rohit was surprised at the picture and expressed, ‘Apne banaya yeh?’

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An account on X (formerly known as Twitter) revealed the moment when one could see the right-handed batter accepting the painting and showing gratitude by signing the picture. Moreover, he also gave a special autograph to the fangirl, sending her ‘love and best wishes’ along with it. It’s an example of the Mumbai batter’s humble nature and friendly attitude towards his fans as he mellows down his passionate supporters.

Watch: Rohit Sharma meets fan girl with portrait as video goes viral

Rohit is currently the fourth leading run-getter of the Blue Brigade in the 50-over format with the help of 11168 runs in 265 innings at an average of 48.76 and a strike rate of over 92, with the help of 32 centuries and 58 half-centuries at the best score of 264 runs against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

"Apne banaya ye" Rohit Sharma couldn’t believe that the fangirl had made such a beautiful painting.❤️

A lovely gesture by @ImRo45 🐐 pic.twitter.com/Kaoqsj6v7H

— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) August 27, 2025

The fans are anticipating an elegant and strong comeback from the veteran batter through the three-match away ODI series against Australia down under. He has already hung up his shoes from the shortest format last year after winning the T20 World Cup, and recently from the five-day format before the away England series.

Few reports have also claimed that Rohit is expected to go through the fitness test on December 31, which could decide whether he can travel to Australia. Meanwhile, reports also revealed that he could feature in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025 for Mumbai to keep him fit and hold his shape in the 50-over games.

The world is about to experience a liftoff as preparations for the Asia Cup are underway in full swing. The epic rivalry between the Asian giants kicks off on September 9. Since this marquee tournament will be played in a T20 format, expectations of high scores and electrifying batting displays run rampant. Throughout the history of the Asia Cup, run-scoring has been aplenty, be it the T20 or ODI format. Legendary batting prodigies from India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan have gone on to script historic knocks that are still etched into the memories of die-hard fans to this day. 

Yet, when we look at the top five run-getters list of all time, only batters from India and Sri Lanka make the cut. Read on as we showcase the top five batters in the Asia Cup history to score the most runs. 

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Sanath Jayasuriya (ODI - 1220, T20I - N/A)

Jayasuriya was responsible for inflicting an unprecedented reign of terror, especially on the Indian bowlers. When in form, the Sri Lankan batting all-rounder would spare no one. To this day, he remains the highest run scorer in the history of the Asia Cup. Despite not playing long enough to feature in the T20 version of the Asia Cup, Jayasuriya's run tally still surpasses the contemporary greats like Kohli and Rohit. In 25 games, Jayasuriya amassed 1220 runs at a stunning average of 53 and managed six centuries and three half-centuries. With a strike rate of 102.2, Jayasuriya was a sheer menace with the willow. His best knock in the Asia Cup came against Bangladesh in 2008. In a winning cause, the all-rounder slammed a rapid 130 (88) to power Sri Lanka to an imposing 332-8. He partnered with Sangakkara at the top of the order to register a crushing 201-run opening stand, which virtually took the game away from Bangladesh well inside the first innings. 

Rohit Sharma (ODI - 939, T20I - 271)

The former Indian skipper marginally edges behind Jayasuriya with a tally of 1210. Rohit Sharma, who made his Asia Cup debut in 2008, took his own merry time to establish a foothold on the big stage. But when he did, there was no looking back. From 2013 onwards, Rohit rose to prominence and evolved into one of the most destructive openers in modern-day cricket. Unlike Jayasuriya, Rohit has been a part of the T20 versions of the Asia Cup that were played in 2016 & 2022. In the T20I version, Rohit has scored 271, which includes some match-winning cameos. However, the bulk of his Asia Cup runs came in the ODI format. Across 23 innings, Rohit plundered 939 runs at a remarkable average of 48.86, with one century and nine half-centuries to his name. His only century, which also happens to be his best Asia Cup knock, came against the arch-rivals Pakistan in 2018. Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan proved way too good for Pakistan as the duo registered a dominant 210-run stand for the opening wicket to roll over the Green Shirts shambolically by nine wickets. Rohit stayed unbeaten on 111* to steer India home with ease. With a fair bit of cricket still left in him, Rohit will be eyeing to go past Jayasuriya's record to become the highest run scorer in the history of the Asia Cup. 

Virat Kohli (ODI - 742, T20I - 429)

The chase master's heightened appetite for runs earns him a well-deserved third spot in this coveted list. Virat Kohli is the highest run-scorer in the T20I format with 429 runs to his name. The most iconic moment of his Asia Cup career came in the T20I format in 2022, when he ended a three-year-long century drought by silencing his critics with a match-winning century against Afghanistan. As for his record in the ODI format, Virat's numbers are equally impressive as his numbers from the shortest format. In 13 ODI innings, Virat has managed to maintain a jaw-dropping average of close to 62 and has registered a tally of 742 runs, which includes four breathtaking centuries. His best Asia Cup knock, which also happens to be his career-best ODI knock, came against Pakistan in the 2012 edition. Virat walked out to bat in a tricky situation, with India already two down for less than 10 runs on the board. But what followed was something way beyond everyone's comprehension. At a time when the momentum rested in favor of Pakistan, Virat's counter-attacking century changed the entire dynamics of the run chase.  With world-class bowlers like Ajmal, Wahab, and Hafeez to contend with, Virat went about his business and fought fire with fire to get India over the line on the back of his swashbuckling 183. 

Kumar Sangakkara (ODI - 1075, T20I - N/A)

The Sri Lankan batting genius comes fourth in the list with 1075 runs in 23 innings. But if we keep the T20I record aside, Sangakkara emerges as the second-best run scorer in the history of the Asia Cup. Although Sangakkara never got a chance to feature in the T20 edition of the Asia Cup, the tailsmatic wicketkeeper-batter unleashed enough carnage to establish himself as a force to reckon with in the ODI format. In 23 ODI innings, Sangakkara scored well above 1000 runs and maintained a healthy average of 48.86. Moreover, he also produced four tons and eight half-century scores, most of which had come in a winning cause. His highest score of 121 in the Asia Cup was achieved against Bangladesh during the 2008 Asia Cup edition in Pakistan. 

Sachin Tendulkar (ODI - 971, T20I - N/A)

When we talk about run scoring, no list is complete without the mention of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Being the highest all-time run getter in ODI and Test formats combined, to see his name appear at the fag end of the list is a tad bit surprising. From a period spanning from 1990 to 2012, Tendulkar featured across 21 ODI innings and amassed 971 runs at an impressive average of 51.10. In his extensive Asia Cup journey, Tendulkar witnessed moments of highs and lows. However, unlike his batting rivals, the little master could only manage two centuries. Nevertheless, he managed to complete seven half-century scores and maintained a healthy strike rate of nearly 85. His best Asia Cup knock, which could arguably be the most magical moment of his life, was against Bangladesh when he racked up a brilliant 114 to bring up his 100th international ton, a feat that is almost impossible to break in the contemporary era.