New Delhi: Indian captain Rohit Sharma delivered a dazzling performance in the second ODI against Sri Lanka on August 4, 2024, at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Sharma, who has been in sensational form throughout the series, played a breathtaking innings of 64 runs off 44 balls, featuring five fours and four sixes. His innings included a rapid fifty off just 29 balls, providing a solid start for the Indian team. Sharma’s contribution was further highlighted by a 97-run partnership with Shubman Gill for the first wicket in just 13.3 overs.

In achieving this feat, Sharma surpassed the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 120 fifty-plus scores as an opener in international cricket. Sharma now holds the record with 121 such scores, further cementing his status as one of cricket’s premier openers. This innings marked Sharma’s second fifty of the ongoing three-match ODI series.

Among the list of batters with the most fifty-plus scores as openers, Australian great David Warner leads with 146, followed by West Indies legends Chris Gayle (144) and Sanath Jayasuriya (136), West Indies’ Desmond Haynes (131), and South Africa’s Graeme Smith (125). Sharma’s latest achievement adds another feather to his cap in the world of cricket.

Additionally, Sharma became the first Indian opener to surpass 300 international matches. His four sixes in the second ODI also took his tally of sixes in ODIs to 330, just one short of Chris Gayle’s record of 331. Shahid Afridi of Pakistan holds the record for the most sixes in ODIs.

Sharma’s 64-run innings also propelled him past Rahul Dravid’s record of 10,768 runs in ODIs, making him the fourth-leading run-scorer for India in the 50-over format with a total of 10,831 runs in 264 ODI matches.

Despite Sharma’s remarkable performance, India faced a setback in the match. The team collapsed from a promising 97 for no loss to 208 all out while chasing a modest target of 241 runs. Sri Lanka’s leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay played a pivotal role, taking six wickets and leading his team to a 32-run victory.

Delighted with the announcement, Philip Xia, General Manager, TCL India, said, “We are elated to welcome the one and only ‘Hitman’ to the TCL India family. Being a cherished icon, he inspires fans to strive for excellence just as we push the boundaries of excellence in technology and products with each launch. With the World Cup just around the corner, Rohit Sharma is undoubtedly the best partner, with whom we can grow our Indian community.”

Rohit Sharma, one of India’s greatest cricket players with over six T20 titles and outstanding World Cup performances, aligns perfectly with TCL’s ‘GO BIG’ marketing strategy, which emphasizes large screen-sized TVs. As India’s GDP has been growing significantly in recent years, consumer expectations have risen. TCL has consistently prioritized providing extraordinary customer experiences. Their exquisite range of large screen-sized TVs, available at affordable prices, has successfully earned customer trust by delivering superior viewing experiences. Sharma’s dedication to excellence in every match complements TCL’s commitment to innovation and sophistication, making this one-year partnership an ideal match.

Talking about his partnership with TCL India, Rohit Sharma said, “TCL’s dedication towards innovating with bigger and better technology-oriented products is inspiring. With this approach, I am looking forward to supporting the company’s efforts to bring the Indian sports community together, through our shared love for cricket.”

This partnership will feature impactful online and offline marketing campaigns starring Rohit Sharma, fondly known as the ‘Hitman’. The combination of Sharma and TCL, representing power, impact, and a tech-savvy lifestyle, will strengthen TCL’s position as a dynamic player in the consumer electronics market. As the captain of the Indian National Cricket team, Sharma is admired by millions for his leadership and performance. Just as Sharma aims for big shots in every game, TCL is committed to groundbreaking innovation in its TVs and washing machines each year. By endorsing TCL products, Sharma is expected to significantly boost the brand’s affinity and purchase consideration among the target audience, reinforcing TCL’s connection with Indian consumers and enhancing their overall experience.