Rohit Sharma: A Cricketing Legend and Captain of India

Rohit Sharma (born 30 April 1987) is an Indian cricketer and the captain of the national team in Test and ODI formats. He is regarded as one of the greatest opening batters and six-hitters in cricket history. A right-handed batsman, he plays for Mumbai Indians in the IPL and Mumbai in domestic cricket. Previously, he captained India in all formats and led them to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup, after which he retired from T20Is.

Rohit Sharma, Indian cricket captain, batting in

action, record-holder, cricket legend. @BCCI

Rohit holds multiple records, including most runs in T20Is, most sixes in international cricket, and most double centuries in ODIs (3). He has the highest individual ODI score (264) and the most centuries in World Cups (7). He is also the only player to score five T20I centuries and holds the fastest T20I century record (35 balls). Additionally, he became the first player to win 50 T20I matches as captain.

As Mumbai Indians’ captain, he led them to five IPL titles (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020), making him the most successful IPL captain alongside MS Dhoni. He played key roles in India's 2007 T20 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy wins and is the only Indian to win two T20 World Cups.

Honored with the Arjuna Award (2015) and the Khel Ratna (2020), Rohit also led India to Asia Cup victories in 2018 and 2023. Off the field, he is an advocate for animal welfare, serving as WWF-India’s Rhino Ambassador and working with PETA to help homeless animals.

Early Life and Cricket Beginnings

Rohit Sharma was born on 30 April 1987 in Bansod, Nagpur, Maharashtra, into a Telugu-Marathi-speaking family. His mother, Purnima, is from Visakhapatnam, while his father, Gurunath, worked as a transport firm storekeeper. Due to financial struggles, Sharma was raised by his grandparents in Borivali, visiting his parents in Dombivli on weekends.

In 1999, he joined a cricket camp with his uncle’s support. Coach Dinesh Lad secured him a scholarship at Swami Vivekanand International School, where he developed as a batter. Initially an off-spinner, he excelled as an opener, scoring a century on debut in school tournaments.

Domestic and Youth Career

Rohit Sharma married his longtime girlfriend, Ritika Sajdeh, on 13 December 2015, whom he first met in 2008. They welcomed their daughter, Samaira, on 30 December 2018, and their son, Ahaan, on 15 November 2024. Sharma practices Sahaj Marg meditation and follows an eggetarian diet.

Sharma has been sponsored by several brands, including CEAT and Hublot. Over his career, he has endorsed many others, such as Maggi, Glow & Lovely, Lay’s, Nissan, Relentless energy drink, Nasivion nasal spray, Aristocrat by VIP Industries, Adidas, and Oppo mobiles.

Sharma made his List A debut in the 2005 Deodhar Trophy for West Zone, scoring 31* against Central Zone. His unbeaten 142 off 123 balls against North Zone brought him recognition. He later toured Abu Dhabi and Australia with India A and was named in India’s 30-member probables for the ICC Champions Trophy.

In 2006, Sharma made his first-class debut for India A and his Ranji Trophy debut for Mumbai, scoring 205 against Gujarat. In 2009, he scored his highest first-class score, 309*, and became Mumbai’s captain in 2013 after Ajit Agarkar’s retirement.

International Breakthrough

Test Cricket Success

Rohit Sharma made his Test debut in November 2013 during Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell series at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, scoring 177, the second-highest debut score by an Indian after Shikhar Dhawan (187). He followed it with an unbeaten 111 in the second Test at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

After being out of the Test team since 2017–18, Sharma was recalled for the 2018–19 Australia tour due to his suitability for bouncy pitches. He played in the first Test at Adelaide, scoring 37 and 1 in India’s win but missed the second Test due to injury. Returning for the third Test at Melbourne, he scored 63* in a crucial win before heading home for his daughter’s birth.

In October 2019, Sharma scored his first Test double century (212) against South Africa, also crossing 2,000 Test runs. He was named Test vice-captain for the 2020 Australia tour. In 2021, he played a key role in India’s series win against England, scoring a match-winning 161 in Chennai and his first overseas Test century (127) at The Oval.

In February 2022, Sharma succeeded Virat Kohli as India’s Test captain. Sunil Gavaskar praised his leadership, and selectors saw him as a mentor for future captains.

World Cup Journey: Record-Breaking Centuries and Leadership Triumphs

2015, 2019, and 2023

Rohit Sharma made his World Cup debut in 2015, playing eight matches as India reached the semi-finals before losing to Australia. He scored 330 runs, including a century (137) in the quarter-final against Bangladesh.

In 2019, Sharma was appointed vice-captain for the World Cup in England. He scored 122 in the opening match against South Africa, reaching 12,000 international runs. He then hit centuries against Pakistan, England, and Bangladesh. Against Sri Lanka, he became the first player to score five centuries in a single World Cup, equaling Sachin Tendulkar’s record of six overall. Sharma finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 648 runs, winning the ICC Golden Bat.

In 2023, Sharma captained India for the first time in a World Cup match against Australia, becoming the oldest Indian captain in the tournament. On 11 October, he broke Tendulkar’s record for most World Cup centuries, scoring his seventh in a match against Afghanistan.

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One-Day International Journey

Rohit Sharma made his international debut in an ODI against Ireland in Belfast on 23 June 2007, as part of the Future Cup, which also featured South Africa. Though batting at number seven, he did not get a chance to bat as India won by 9 wickets.

On 18 November 2007, Sharma scored his maiden ODI half-century (52) against Pakistan in Jaipur. His performances earned him a place in the 2007–08 Commonwealth Bank Series in Australia, where he accumulated 235 runs at an average of 33.57, including a crucial 66 in the first final at Sydney, partnering Sachin Tendulkar in a successful chase. However, a dip in form saw him lose his middle-order spot to Suresh Raina and later to Virat Kohli. A strong Ranji Trophy performance in 2009 led to his recall for a tri-series in Bangladesh, where Sachin Tendulkar was rested.

Sharma scored his maiden ODI century (114) against Zimbabwe on 28 May 2010, followed by another unbeaten 101 against Sri Lanka two days later. A poor run in South Africa led to his omission from India’s 2011 World Cup squad. However, he was recalled for the West Indies tour in mid-2011, scoring a match-winning 86 in the third ODI after India had slumped to 92 for 6.

A slump in 2012 saw him score just 168 runs at a low average of 12.92. Despite this, captain MS Dhoni backed him, and in 2013, Sharma was promoted to open with Shikhar Dhawan in the ICC Champions Trophy. The move paid off as India won the tournament. His form continued against Australia, scoring an unbeaten 141 in Jaipur and a record-breaking 209 in Bangalore with 16 sixes.

On 13 November 2014, Sharma shattered records with a world-best 264 against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens. He later captained India in the 2017 ODI series against Sri Lanka, securing a 2–1 victory and hitting his third double-century (208*).

In 2018, Sharma led India to an Asia Cup victory in Kohli’s absence. He was India’s top ODI scorer in 2019, amassing 1,490 runs, including 7 centuries. In 2022, he became the first Indian captain to win both ODI and T20I series in England. In February 2025, during the ICC Champions Trophy, he became the second-fastest to reach 11,000 ODI runs in 261 innings, trailing only Virat Kohli.

T20I Dominance and Captaincy

Rohit Sharma made a significant impact in the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, scoring an unbeaten 50 against South Africa in a crucial Super Eight match and 30* in the final against Pakistan, helping India win the title.

On 2 October 2015, during a T20I against South Africa, Sharma scored 106, becoming the second Indian to score centuries in all three formats. In December 2017, he hit a 35-ball century against Sri Lanka, equaling David Miller’s record for the fastest T20I hundred.

In July 2018, during a series in England, Sharma became the second Indian, after Virat Kohli, to score 2,000 T20I runs. He also equaled Colin Munro’s record for most T20I centuries with his third ton. Leading India in the 2018 Nidahas Trophy, he secured another tournament victory. In November 2018, he scored his fourth T20I century, setting a new record.

By November 2019, Sharma had become India's most-capped T20I player and the first Indian male cricketer to play 100 T20Is. He was nominated for the ICC Men's T20I Cricketer of the Decade award in 2020. As captain, he led India to 14 consecutive T20I wins in 2022 and participated in his eighth T20 World Cup.

In May 2024, Sharma was named India's T20 World Cup captain. In June, he hit his 600th international six. On 29 June 2024, he led India to victory in the T20 World Cup before announcing his retirement from T20s, confirming his continuation in ODIs and Tests.

IPL Career and Leadership

Rohit Sharma began his IPL career in 2008 with the Deccan Chargers, earning $750,000 per year. In 2011, he was acquired by the Mumbai Indians for $2 million. He scored his maiden IPL century (109*) in 2012 and his second in 2024 (105*), ending a 12-year wait.

As Mumbai Indians captain, he led the team to five IPL titles (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020) and the 2013 Champions League T20. With 6,472 runs, he is the fourth-highest IPL run-scorer. In 2024, Mumbai replaced him with Hardik Pandya as captain, sparking controversy among fans.

Playing Style and Achievements

Rohit Sharma is an aggressive yet elegant batsman, excelling as an opener in limited-overs cricket while playing in the middle order in Tests. Renowned for his attacking play and six-hitting ability, he is often called "Hitman."

Sunil Gavaskar likens Sharma’s style to Virender Sehwag and Viv Richards, praising his ability to score big hundreds. Gavaskar believes Sharma could become the most destructive batsman in red-ball cricket. While not a regular bowler, he can deliver right-arm off-spin. Sharma also focuses on slip fielding, consistently working to improve this aspect of his game.

Rohit Sharma holds the record for the highest individual score in a One Day International, scoring 264 against Sri Lanka on 13 November 2014. He is the only player with three ODI double-centuries. In 2019, he became the first batsman to hit five centuries in a single Cricket World Cup edition. The ICC named him ODI Player of the Year in 2020.

In Tests, Sharma became the first player to score twin centuries in his debut match as an opener in October 2019. He also broke the record for most sixes in a Test series.

During the 2023 Cricket World Cup, Sharma surpassed Chris Gayle’s record for most international sixes and became the first Indian to hit 300 sixes in ODIs. In August 2024, he set the record for most international sixes as a captain. Additionally, he holds the record for the most Player of the Match awards (19) in IPL history.

Rohit Sharma's Honours

• Arjuna Award (2015)
• ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year: 2014 (12th man), 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023 (captain)
• ICC Men's ODI and T20I Team of the Decade (2011–2020)
• ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year (2019)
• Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (2020)
• ICC Men's Test Team of the Year (2021)

For his exceptional performance in India’s 2021 tour of England, Wisden Cricketers' Almanack named Sharma one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in its 2022 edition.

Legacy

Rohit Sharma's cricketing journey is marked by exceptional records, leadership, and contributions to Indian cricket. His impact on the game will be remembered for generations, both as a batsman and a captain.

FAQs:

1. Who is Rohit Sharma?
   àRohit Sharma is an Indian cricketer and captain of the Indian national team across all formats. Known for his elegant batting and aggressive style, he is one of the greatest limited-overs batsmen in cricket history.
2. What are Rohit Sharma’s major achievements in international cricket?
   àSharma holds the record for the highest individual ODI score (264) and is the only player with three double centuries in ODIs. He also led India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
3. How many IPL titles has Rohit Sharma won as a captain?
   àRohit Sharma captained Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020), making him one of the most successful IPL captains.
4. What awards has Rohit Sharma received?
   àHe has received prestigious honors like the Arjuna Award (2015) and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (2020). He was also named ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year in 2019.
5. What is Rohit Sharma’s nickname, and why is he called that?
   àHe is popularly known as "Hitman" due to his explosive batting style and exceptional ability to hit sixes effortlessly.
6. How many centuries has Rohit Sharma scored in international cricket?
   àRohit Sharma has scored over 40 centuries across all formats, including multiple double hundreds in ODIs and centuries in T20Is and Test matches.
7. Has Rohit Sharma played in all ICC T20 World Cups?
   àYes, Rohit Sharma is the only Indian cricketer to have played in every ICC T20 World Cup since its inception in 2007.
8. When did Rohit Sharma become India’s full-time captain?
   àHe was appointed India’s full-time captain across all formats in 2022, succeeding Virat Kohli.
9. What are Rohit Sharma’s records in Test cricket?
   àHe became the first batsman to score twin centuries on debut as a Test opener and holds the record for most sixes in a Test series.
10. Why was Rohit Sharma removed as Mumbai Indians' captain in IPL 2024?
    àIn 2024, MI replaced Rohit Sharma with Hardik Pandya as captain, sparking controversy among fans, as Sharma had led the team to five IPL titles.