India’s 50-run win in the first T20I against England on July 7 was their 13th successive win under Rohit Sharma, which is now a world-record.
The sequence had started back in November 2019 in India’s three-match home series against Bangladesh, wherein they had lost the opener in Delhi.
Leading the side in Virat Kohli’s absence then, Sharma stroked a brilliant 43-ball 85 in the following game in Rajkot, and Deepak Chahar registered a hattrick during his 6/7 record-spell in the series-decider in Nagpur, with India winning the series.
The Mumbai Indians captain then led India to a seven-wicket win against New Zealand a few months later, as the side completed a 5-0 sweep of the Black Caps.
After India’s exit from the T20 World Cup 2021, Rohit led India in three successive series sweeps against New Zealand, West Indies and Sri Lanka, respectively. India, at that point, had 12 consecutive T20I victories, a run that had started in the T20 World Cup 2021, thereby levelling with Afghanistan (among full-member nations) on that front.
However, a loss to South Africa in the series opener in Delhi last month ended that streak. India were led by Rishabh Pant in the five-match affair, which would eventually end at 2-2 after a rain-curtailed draw in Bangalore.
Having missed the Edgbaston Test last week after having tested covid-19 positive, Rohit returned for the first T20I against England at The Ageas Bowl and stroked a free-flowing 14-ball 24 after opting to bat.
Hardik Pandya (51 off 33), Suryakumar Yadav (39 off 19) and Deepak Hooda (33 off 17) helped India score 198/8 in the first innings. Hardik led the way with the ball, returning 4/33, as the visitors registered a comprehensive 50-run win.
The second T20I will be played at Edgbaston on July 9.
