On This Day 12th May 2012: Hitman’s First Blast as Rohit Sharma Smashes His Maiden IPL Century Against KKR

But even before that, on 12th May 2012, Rohit created another special memory by scoring his maiden IPL century. Playing against Kolkata Knight Riders at the iconic Eden Gardens, Rohit smashed a brilliant hundred and helped Mumbai Indians register a big win. Eden has always been lucky for him, and this knock proved why he’s called the Hitman. Let’s take a moment to relive that unforgettable innings.

Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders: 12th May 2012

At the Eden Gardens, Rohit Sharma has always been a different player who knows how to light up the stage with his stylish and explosive batting. On May 12, 2012, in the 58th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Rohit played a breathtaking knock, smashing an unbeaten 109 off just 60 balls to lead Mumbai Indians (MI) to a convincing 27-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). His dazzling century, paired with Herschelle Gibbs’ steady unbeaten 66, powered MI to a strong 182/1 in 20 overs. KKR fought hard, with Jacques Kallis scoring a gritty 79, but they could only manage 155/4, falling short of the target. Rohit’s heroics earned him the Player of the Match award and left the Eden Gardens crowd in awe of his brilliance.

Mumbai Indians’ batting was a one-man show headlined by Rohit Sharma, with a solid supporting act from Herschelle Gibbs. Walking out to bat at number three after Sachin Tendulkar’s early dismissal, Rohit took control right away. His unbeaten 109 came off just 60 balls, with a strike rate of 181.66 that showed his dominance. Packed with 12 fours and 5 sixes, his innings was a perfect mix of elegance and power.

Rohit didn’t just hit boundaries as he paced his knock smartly which ensured MI set a huge total that KKR couldn’t chase. The innings got off to a shaky start when Tendulkar was stumped for 2 in the third over by Shakib Al Hasan, leaving MI at 15/1 and this brought Rohit to the crease, and he quickly changed the game’s mood and while teaming up with Gibbs, who was playing his first match of the season, Rohit built an unbeaten 167-run partnership for the second wicket.

Rohit reached his fifty in just 29 balls, smashing 5 fours and 3 sixes along the way as he was in complete control, reading the bowlers’ plans and punishing anything loose. Brett Lee, KKR’s pace spearhead, was hit hard, giving away 44 runs in his 4 overs as Rohit drove and cut him with ease. Even Sunil Narine, KKR’s mystery spinner, couldn’t stop Rohit entirely. Though Narine was tidy, giving away 28 runs in 4 overs, Rohit lofted him for a six to show he wasn’t fazed. Jacques Kallis and Rajat Bhatia also struggled, leaking 40 and 41 runs respectively, as Rohit found gaps and cleared the ropes at will.

As the innings moved forward, Rohit shifted gears smoothly as Mumbai Indians crossed 100 runs in the 12th over, with Rohit and Gibbs keeping the run rate above 8.5 and their partnership hit the 100-run mark in 71 balls, with Rohit scoring 64 of those runs as his century, a moment to remember, came off just 52 balls — one of the fastest in IPL 2012. By then, he had 11 fours and 5 sixes, and he raised his bat to the cheering crowd, soaking in the moment and Rohit’s late surge ensured MI ended strongly, with his final tally of 109* being the backbone of their total.

Gibbs played a crucial role too, scoring an unbeaten 66 off 58 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes and his steady approach let Rohit take risks, and he reached his fifty off 48 balls. Together, the pair added 150 runs in 94 balls for the second wicket, a partnership that crushed KKR’s hopes. MI’s powerplay yielded 49 runs for 1 wicket, setting the stage for Rohit’s fireworks. The team reached 150 in the 17th over, and Rohit’s big hits in the final overs pushed MI to 182/1.

KKR’s bowlers had no answers. Shakib took the only wicket, dismissing Tendulkar early, but gave away 27 runs in his 4 overs. Lee, Kallis, and Bhatia leaked runs, while Narine, though wicketless, was the most economical. Rohit dominated all bowlers with ease, making this one of his best IPL knocks. His big partnership with Gibbs ensured MI lost no more wickets after the early blow as the innings was a great example of how to build in T20s and then accelerate, with Rohit setting the pace throughout.

KKR’s chase of 183 started poorly as captain Gautam Gambhir was bowled for a duck by Munaf Patel in the first over, and Manvinder Bisla fell for 1 to Pragyan Ojha, leaving KKR at 3/2. Jacques Kallis and Manoj Tiwary tried to rebuild with a 57-run stand for the third wicket, but the rising run rate kept them under pressure as Tiwary scored 27 off 25 before Kieron Pollard trapped him lbw, making it 60/3 in the 10th over. Kallis kept fighting, scoring 79 off 60 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes and shared a 91-run stand with Yusuf Pathan, who made an unbeaten 40 off 31. But Kallis’ dismissal in the final over, caught by Rohit off Dwayne Smith, ended KKR’s hopes. They finished at 155/4, 27 runs short.

MI’s bowlers were sharp as Parthiv Patel and Pragyran Ojha struck early, while Lasith Malinga was tight, giving away just 27 runs in 4 overs. Pollard and Smith each took a wicket, and Harbhajan Singh bowled a tidy over as Mumbai Indians fielding was on point, with Rohit’s catch to dismiss Kallis capping his stellar day as the win earned MI 2 points and snapped KKR’s seven-match winning streak. Played under lights at Eden Gardens, the match saw MI choose to bat after winning the toss and the pitch was good for batting, as Rohit made the most of it.

KKR’s strong batting lineup, including Gambhir, Kallis, and Pathan, couldn’t keep up with the required rate against MI’s disciplined bowling. In the IPL 2012 context, this win kept MI in the race for the top four, while KKR stayed in playoff contention despite the loss. Rohit’s knock was a highlight of the season, proving why he’s a fan favourite at Eden Gardens. His ability to dominate and entertain made this match a classic, with MI’s victory a testament to their depth and Rohit’s brilliance.