Rohit Sharma smashes century with Shardul Thakur’s gifted bat: ‘He once asked me for a couple’

Rohit Sharma struck a landmark century in a high-stakes match on 20 July 2026, using a bat given to him months earlier by Shardul Thakur.

What happened?

Shardul Thakur presented Rohit Sharma with a customised bat before the series opener against England. On Sunday, Rohit wielded that same bat to bludgeon a 124 off 92 balls, his first hundred of the summer. The innings anchored India to a 7-wicket win with 18 balls to spare at Lord’s. Thakur, who had joked about the gift months ago, revealed the request came from Rohit himself during a net session in Mumbai last December.

Why this bat matters for Rohit Sharma

The bat wasn’t just any piece of willow. Thakur had handed it over after Rohit casually mentioned he liked the look of it. ‘He once requested me to give him a couple,’ Thakur told reporters after the game. The bat’s grain ran straight through the middle, a trait Rohit favours for his cover-drive. He sliced four fours through point in the 38th over alone, the first time he’d trusted a new blade in a Test since 2023.

What comes next for Rohit Sharma

India’s next Test starts in Manchester on 29 July. Rohit, already the joint-third fastest to 35 Test hundreds, now eyes Brian Lara’s 34 Test centuries. ‘I don’t count records,’ he said. ‘I count the next game.’ His team-mates, though, are already calling the bat ‘lucky’ after Rohit’s unbeaten 89 in the first innings at Edgbaston last month-also played with it.

How the partnership unfolded

The exchange began in Mumbai when both were training for the World Test Championship final squad. Thakur spotted Rohit eyeing the bat in a Mumbai shop. ‘I’ll get you a pair,’ Thakur joked. Rohit replied, ‘Just give me one.’ A week later, the bat arrived at the MCA ground. Rohit used it in the nets, then tucked it away. He only pulled it out again when the Lord’s pitch offered pace and bounce-perfect for his pull and cut shots. The final six came off Ollie Robinson, the last ball of the day, sealing the chase and the moment.