Rohit Sharma is raised in Mumbai. Still, whenever the ‘Hitman’, as he is popularly known among his teammates, plays in Visakhapatnam, he feels like playing at home. After all, his mother is from Vizag, the coastal city which is the home of Andhra cricket. Naturally, Rohit’s bat has an extra edge whenever he plays in Visakhapatnam.

When Rohit turned up for Mumbai Indians in the coastal city three years ago, he was even more charged up than he usually is while playing in Vizag. After all, he was up against Deccan Chargers, the team that he represented in the first three IPL seasons, and was keen to make it special. He not only made it a memorable night for himself but, also for his numerous fans in the city with a marvellous performance that helped Mumbai Indians clinch a thriller.

The Mumbai Indian’s bowlers did a brilliant job in restricting Deccan Chargers to 138 for nine. However, Dale Steyn bowled a fiery spell to wreak havoc in the MI top order. Steyn accounted for both the openers in his first over, thus putting brakes on the batting. Rohit took guard after T Suman’s dismissal, and he appeared to have made up his mind to stay on till MI overhauled the target.

But Steyn and Ankit Sharma’s economical spells, aided by regular fall of wickets at the other end, meant Mumbai Indians couldn’t switch gears and were always chasing the required rate. At the end of the 18th over, Mumbai Indians required 23 runs off 12 balls, with Dinesh Karthik giving company to Rohit.

Steyn had one over left to be bowled. Charger’s skipper Kumar Sangakkara, chose the fiery bowler for the penultimate over, rather than saving him for the last. And Steyn continued to strike, accounting for Karthik, while conceding just five runs in the over.

With 18 required off six, MI fans thought the game was slipping out of their hands; especially with Rohit at the non-striker’s end. But, James Franklin started the over with a four off Dan Christian and then took a brace. For MI to script a victory, Franklin had to get Rohit on strike, who was batting on 59.

With 12 required off four balls, Franklin missed the ball but Rohit ran for his life to complete the single and get on strike. 11 off three. Full toss outside off, and Rohit swung it so hard that despite the ball hitting the toe end of the bat, it sailed over the point boundary.

For the first time in the chase, Mumbai Indians had the upper hand with five required off two balls. Rohit chose to hit a groundstroke off the next ball and ran for his life to complete two runs. In fact, had it not been for a dive from Rohit, he would have been found short of stumps as the Chargers’ keeper whipped the bails. But it was not to be.

Last ball. Three runs required. Running three is virtually impossible on an Indian ground, unless on an overthrow. So it had to be a four or a six for MI to win. And the ‘Hitman’ did it! Christian buckled under pressure and offered his second full-toss of the over. But it still had to be hit and Rohit didn’t falter, clubbing it over long-on to kick off the wild celebrations.

Well, the home team had lost. But the fans in Vizag had thoroughly enjoyed a special outing from the man they consider, ‘son of the soil.’