Rohit Sharma's lucky ODI double century bats

Rohit Sharma during a practice session at the Wankhede last year

A confident Rohit Sharma departed for Australia in the wee hours of Saturday armed with two bats that are very special to him. One, with which he scored 209 against Australia during the Bangalore ODI in 2013 and other which helped him slam a world record 264 against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens on November 13.


Rohit Sharma during a practice session at the Wankhede last year. Pic/Suresh KK

The willow with which he flayed the Australian attack last year had broken, but Rohit got it repaired in time so that he could carry it along to Australia. "My mood gets better if I see these bats in front of me in the dressing room.

Memories of those two innings give me immense happiness," the Mumbai-based batsman told Sunday mid-day after receiving a special award from BCCI for his 264 in Mumbai on Friday. After his 264 at the Eden Gardens, Rohit donated his India ODI shirt to Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) which the state body plans to frame and display.

Rohit clarified that it wasn't the jersey he wore during the match."I did not give them (CAB) the jersey which I wore during the match in which I made 264. I gave a jersey which I wore during the course of the series. Of course, I signed the jersey. I have preserved the Kolkata match jersey just like I have kept the two bats with which I scored 209 and 264."

Rohit broke the record held by Virender Sehwag, who had made 219 against West Indies in Indore in 2011. Sehwag sent Rohit a congratulatory SMS after he got his mobile number from this correspondent. "It was great to receive such a message before leaving for a tough series in Australia," said Rohit.