Rohit, along with Virat, will be well rested when India take on Bangladesh at home in a two-Test series beginning September 19 in Chennai.The duo last played the three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka, having announced their retirement from T20Is following India’s triumph in the T20 World Cup earlier this year in June. They were also exempted from the Duleep Trophy that began on September 5.
Batting on home soil, both Rohit and Virat are expected to pile on the runs. Rohit, in fact, is the leading Indian batsman in the overall WTC run-scoring charts since the championship began in 2019.
The India captain and opener has scored 2552 runs at an average of 50.03 in 54 innings across 32 Tests.
England’s batting mainstay Joe Root leads the list with 4973 runs in 106 innings across 58 matches at an average of 51.26. His tally includes 16 centuries and 20 fifties.
Rohit’s tally of 52 sixes is the second highest, next only to England captain Ben Stokes’ 81 sixes in the WTC. Allrounder Stokes has managed 3101 runs at an average of 37.81 in 88 innings across 48 Tests.
The nine centuries scored by Rohit are the most by an Indian batsman in WTC. Three other Indians have managed four centuries each — Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill and Virat.
Rohit has hit 301 fours in 54 innings, which is also the most by an Indian batsman in the WTC. Virat is the next best on that list for the Indian batsmen with 260 fours in 60 innings.
After the two Tests against Bangladesh, India will host New Zealand for a three-Test series before travelling to Australia for five Tests part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
India are currently number one in the WTC table, followed by Australia at number two.
Top two teams at the end of the WTC cycle play the final, which is scheduled to begin on June 11 at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.
(Stats by: Rajesh Kumar)