Former India captain Rohit Sharma is on the verge of a monumental career achievement as he nears the elite 20,000-run mark in international cricket. Now just 41 runs short of this milestone, Rohit is set to become the fourth Indian batter in history to join this prestigious club.

Currently, this exclusive list includes Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Rahul Dravid -three of the sport’s most iconic figures. Tendulkar leads with an astounding 34,357 runs, followed by Kohli with 27,808, and Dravid with 24,064. Rohit, with 19,959 runs from 503 matches at an average of 42.46, is on the brink of joining this distinguished company.

Rohit’s career numbers highlight his adaptability across formats. His tally includes 50 international centuries and 110 fifties, showcasing both longevity and consistency. His runs are spread across 4,301 in Tests, 4,231 in T20Is, and an impressive 11,427 in ODIs, underlining his crucial role in India’s white-ball dominance over the years. Although he has stepped away from T20Is following India’s 2024 World Cup triumph and retired from Test cricket earlier this year, Rohit continues to lead India’s ODI setup with authority.

The year 2024 has been one of Rohit’s best in ODI cricket. He has scored 561 runs in just 12 matches at an average of 51 and a strike rate above 99, including two centuries and three half-centuries. His unbeaten 121 is his highest score this year. His outstanding form was evident during the Australia tour, where he scored both a fifty and a century in the three-match ODI series. Continuing that momentum, he started the South Africa series with a fluent 57 off 51 balls in Ranchi.
During that innings, Rohit also made global ODI history by hitting his 352nd six, surpassing Shahid Afridi’s record of 351. This achievement is even more significant considering the efficiency with which Rohit reached it. Afridi set the record in 369 innings, whereas Rohit overtook it in just 269, highlighting his unmatched power-hitting finesse in modern cricket.

Rohit will have the opportunity to reach the 20,000-run milestone in the second ODI against South Africa on December 3, set to be played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur. With form on his side and history within reach, this match is likely to draw widespread attention as Rohit attempts to secure his place among India’s greatest-ever run scorers.