Virat Kohli has always backed team-mate Rohit Sharma to the hilt, but when it comes to running between the wickets, the skipper may do better to be a little more wary.
In the fifth ODI at Port Elizabeth on Wednesday, Kohli was run-out after a mix-up with his vice-captain. In case you were wondering, it was the seventh instance in ODI cricket where the pair have been involved in this particular mode of dismissal. Of the seven, Kohli has had to make the long walk back in five.
For a pair of batsmen who share such a good rapport, their understanding when it comes to running between the wickets has been extremely poor.
But Rohit seems to have devised a plan to escape the wrath of the captain: Just score big and make up for Kohli's wicket.
Of the five occasions Rohit has been involved in the run-out of Kohli, the former has 'made amends' by adding four big hundreds to his name.
In 2013, Rohit made his first ODI double century against Australia after Kohli was found short of his crease on 0. Against Sri Lanka in 2014, Rohit blasted his way to a world record 264 at the Eden Gardens. The catalyst for the knock? Another mix-up with the Delhi batsman.
Against Australia at Brisbane in 2016, he scored 124, though it was for a losing cause.
After a string of low scores in the ongoing South Africa tour, Rohit maybe felt his best bet to get back to scoring ways was to run his captain out again. And the trick worked as he scored his 17th ODI hundred against the Proteas at the expense of his captain!
The first time the pair were involved in such incident was in 2011 at Kingston, through no fault of Rohit though. Batting on 93, Kohli called for a two only to be caught short of the crease by a sharp Ramnaresh Sarwan. This was the only instance where Rohit failed to score a hundred. He was bowled out for 57 by Anthony Martin.
Kohli has returned the favour twice to the Mumbai batsman, once with Rohit on 91 against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy 2017 and on 65 against Australia in the same year.
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