BIRMINGHAM: Rohit Sharma is renowned for his hunger for big hundreds and his soaring self-belief is driving India forward as they seek a third World Cup triumph.

The opener is in the form of his life, hitting his fourth century of the tournament in the win against Bangladesh on Tuesday that took India through to the semi-finals.

With an attacking 104 at Edgbaston, Sharma took his overall tally of World Cup hundreds to five, second only behind batting great Sachin Tendulkar, who hit six centuries in as many tournaments.

He is also the second player after Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara to register four hundreds in a single World Cup.

“Fifth century in 15 World Cup innings for Rohit Sharma. Amazing hunger and consistency,” former India opener Virender Sehwag wrote on Twitter.

The attacking opener, who led his Indian Premier League side Mumbai Indians to their fourth title in May, is now the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 544 runs in seven matches at an eye-watering average of more than 90.

“I have been watching Rohit for years now, he is the best ODI player around,” India captain Virat Kohli said after the win against Bangladesh. “He is a joy to watch and is having the tournament of his life. When he plays well we know we are heading for a big score. He gives everyone confidence to go out and bat.”

Kohli has admitted more than once that he does not have the repertoire of strokes of Sharma, whose elegance combined with his hunger for runs makes him such a compelling batsman to watch.

Sharma, who started his World Cup campaign strongly against South Africa with a battling 122 not out on a tough batting wicket, says he has learned to curb his instincts and finishing off a game gives him ‘immense satisfaction’.

The India vice-captain explained his approach after scoring a century in a losing cause against England on Sunday.

“Every game for me is a new game, and I try and do the same, try and see if I have the portion to finish the game or bat as long as possible and get the team in a good position, things like that,” he said.

K.L. Rahul, who moved up the order in the absence of injured Shikhar Dhawan, admitted his transition has been easier as Sharma continues to find boundaries at will, easing the pressure in the opening Powerplay.

“You would be a fool to be tempted to bat like Rohit because he is in a different class,” Rahul said. “He is from a different planet altogether when he gets going.

“To bat with him is really easy because he takes the pressure off you. He keeps getting the boundaries and the scoreboard keeps ticking, I just have to keep there with him. It is great fun.”

Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar says Sharma is showing great maturity in his ability to convert fifties to centuries.

The 32-year-old is the only batsman to score three double centuries in the 50-over format, with his highest score of 264 coming against Sri Lanka in 2014.

Sharma has amassed 8,554 runs at an average of nearly 49 in 213 ODI matches since making his debut in 2007.

He has a strike-rate of over 88 and has hit 26 centuries and 42 fifties in his glittering career.

The batsman, who gives the impression of having a devil-may-care attitude, recently credited his run of form to a happy family life, saying his baby daughter had put him in a ‘good space’.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2019