Rohit Sharma: Indian Cricketer and Former Captain
Rohit Gurunath Sharma, born on April 30, 1987, in Bansod, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India, is an Indian international cricketer and the current captain of the Indian cricket team in One-Day Internationals (ODIs). He previously led the team in Test matches and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) until his retirements from those formats. A right-handed opening batsman and occasional right-arm off-break bowler, Sharma is widely regarded as one of the greatest ODI batsmen of all time, earning the nickname “Hitman” for his effortless boundary-hitting ability and elegant stroke play, particularly his iconic pull shots.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Sharma was born into a Telugu-Marathi-speaking family to Gurunath Sharma, a caretaker at a transport firm storehouse, and Purnima Sharma. Raised by his grandparents in Mumbai due to financial constraints, he discovered his love for cricket at a summer camp. His talent caught the eye of coach Dinesh Lad, who facilitated his transfer to Swami Vivekanand International School, where fees were waived to support his training. Initially an off-spinner, Sharma’s batting potential was soon recognized, leading to his promotion as an opener in school cricket, where he began scoring centuries.
Sharma’s domestic career began with a List A debut for West Zone in the 2005 Deodhar Trophy, where he scored an unbeaten 142 off 123 balls against North Zone. He made his first-class debut for India A against New Zealand A and later scored 205 off 267 balls for Mumbai in the 2006-07 Ranji Trophy against Gujarat, cementing his place in domestic cricket.
International Career
Sharma debuted for India in an ODI against Ireland on June 23, 2007, though he didn’t bat in the match. He gained prominence during the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup, scoring an unbeaten 50 off 40 balls against South Africa and 30 not out off 16 balls in the final against Pakistan, helping India secure the title. Despite early inconsistencies, a pivotal moment came in 2013 when MS Dhoni promoted him to open in ODIs during the ICC Champions Trophy, a move that transformed his career. Partnering with Shikhar Dhawan, Sharma became part of India’s most successful opening pair since Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar, leading India to the 2013 Champions Trophy title.
Sharma’s Test debut came in November 2013 against West Indies, where he scored 177 runs and was named Player of the Series in Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell series. However, his early Test career was marked by inconsistency, and it wasn’t until he started opening in 2019 that he solidified his position, scoring centuries in three of his first four innings as a Test opener.
As captain, Sharma led India to the 2024 T20 World Cup title, defeating South Africa in the final, and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. He also guided India to the 2018 and 2023 Asia Cups, the 2018 Nidahas Trophy, and the finals of the 2023 World Test Championship and ODI World Cup, though they lost to Australia in both. Sharma announced his retirement from T20Is after the 2024 World Cup victory and from Test cricket on May 7, 2025, after a slump in form, including a poor run of 122 runs in 10 innings across his last six Tests.
Indian Premier League (IPL) Success
Sharma’s IPL journey began in 2008 with Deccan Chargers, where he won the title in 2009 and notably took a hat-trick in 2009. Joining Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2011, he became captain in 2013 and led MI to five IPL titles (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020), making him the joint-most successful captain in IPL history alongside MS Dhoni. He also won the 2013 Champions League T20 with MI. As of May 2025, Sharma has played 270 IPL matches, scoring 6,957 runs at an average of 29.60, with 2 centuries, 46 half-centuries, 630 fours, and 298 sixes, making him MI’s top scorer and the third-highest run-scorer in IPL history. He was replaced as MI captain by Hardik Pandya in 2024 but continued to contribute significantly, with MI acquiring him for Rs 16.30 Cr in the 2025 IPL auction.
Records and Achievements
Sharma holds numerous records, including the highest individual ODI score of 264 against Sri Lanka in 2014, a feat achieved on November 13, 2014, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. He is the only batsman to score three ODI double centuries (209 vs. Australia in 2013, 264 vs. Sri Lanka in 2014, and 208* vs. Sri Lanka in 2017). In the 2019 ODI World Cup, he scored 5 centuries, the most in a single tournament, earning the Golden Bat award as the leading run-scorer with 648 runs. Across all formats, he has hit the most international sixes (600 as of June 2024), including 344 in ODIs, and holds the record for most T20I centuries (5, tied with Glenn Maxwell). Sharma is the only Indian to play in every T20 World Cup from 2007 to 2024, winning two titles (2007, 2024). In ODIs, he has scored 11,168 runs in 273 matches at an average of 48.76, with 32 centuries, and in Tests, he scored 4,301 runs in 67 matches at an average of 40.57.
Sharma holds numerous records, including the highest individual ODI score of 264 against Sri Lanka in 2014, a feat achieved on November 13, 2014, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. He is the only batsman to score three ODI double centuries (209 vs. Australia in 2013, 264 vs. Sri Lanka in 2014, and 208* vs. Sri Lanka in 2017). In the 2019 ODI World Cup, he scored 5 centuries, the most in a single tournament, earning the Golden Bat award as the leading run-scorer with 648 runs. Across all formats, he has hit the most international sixes (600 as of June 2024), including 344 in ODIs, and holds the record for most T20I centuries (5, tied with Glenn Maxwell). Sharma is the only Indian to play in every T20 World Cup from 2007 to 2024, winning two titles (2007, 2024). In ODIs, he has scored 11,168 runs in 273 matches at an average of 48.76, with 32 centuries, and in Tests, he scored 4,301 runs in 67 matches at an average of 40.57.
Sharma’s accolades include the Arjuna Award (2015), the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (2020), the ICC ODI Crick Primeiro do Ano (2019), and inclusion in the ICC ODI Team of the Year (2014, 2016-2019, 2023) and T20I Team of the Decade (2011-2020). He was named Sportsman of the Year by GQ (2015) and Indian Sports Honours (2019).
Personal Life and Philanthropy
Sharma married Ritika Sajdeh on December 13, 2015, and they have a daughter, Samaira, born on December 30, 2018. They reside in a luxurious 6,000 sq. ft. apartment on the 29th floor of Ahuja Towers in Mumbai. A football enthusiast, Sharma admires Zinedine Zidane and supports Real Madrid. He is also an active philanthropist, serving as WWF-India’s Rhino Ambassador and working with PETA to promote animal welfare, including campaigns for sterilizing homeless cats and dogs and an anti-poaching initiative in Kenya in 2015 alongside Matt LeBlanc and Salma Hayek.
Legacy
From a young talent in Mumbai to a global cricket icon, Sharma’s journey reflects resilience and adaptability. Despite early struggles with consistency, his transformation into a white-ball colossus and a tactical leader has left an indelible mark on cricket. Posts on X highlight his selflessness, with fans noting his mentorship of younger players like Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill after winning Player of the Match in IPL 2025, and his ability to perform under pressure, such as scoring 597 runs as the leading run-scorer in the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, his Test career faced criticism for inconsistency, and some speculate his retirement was influenced by selection pressures, though his overall impact on Indian cricket remains monumental.
From a young talent in Mumbai to a global cricket icon, Sharma’s journey reflects resilience and adaptability. Despite early struggles with consistency, his transformation into a white-ball colossus and a tactical leader has left an indelible mark on cricket. Posts on X highlight his selflessness, with fans noting his mentorship of younger players like Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill after winning Player of the Match in IPL 2025, and his ability to perform under pressure, such as scoring 597 runs as the leading run-scorer in the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, his Test career faced criticism for inconsistency, and some speculate his retirement was influenced by selection pressures, though his overall impact on Indian cricket remains monumental.
