Rohit

Sharma

Rohit Sharma Biography and Career

Rohit Sharma did not have the best of starts to his international career. There were multiple ups and downs, and it felt like so many other cricketers, his career would also fade away despite so much promise. Then came a switch to Mumbai Indians in the IPL. He got captaincy and five title wins later, Rohit ‘the Hitman’ Sharma became the talk of the town. 

It was in the early 2000s when the talks of this youngster from Mumbai started making the rounds. Everyone spoke of this teenager who seemed to have that extra second to play his strokes, could play pace and spin with equal merit and send the ball a long way. They also said: ‘Watch out for this kid’s pull shot.’

Rohit Gurunath Sharma made his India debut in an ODI as a 20-year-old against Ireland. But it was in the T20I circuit where he really stood out and made a name for himself. He made his debut in the 2007 T20 World Cup where in his first outing, he scored an important 50 not out against South Africa. Then in a low-scoring final against arch-rivals Pakistan, Rohit played a sensational knock of 30* off 16 balls to take India’s total past 150. 

India eventually won the T20 World Cup in 2007 and a new star was born. To the casual observer, it was clear that Rohit was the next big thing in Indian cricket. He had the talent, every shot in the book and more importantly,  looked effortless while playing those strokes. But, for the longest time, the term “talent” became Rohit’s nightmare. A joke that floated for months on social media and troubled him throughout his initial phase.

Rohit was expected to be Sachin Tendulkar’s successor in the Indian team across formats, but he could never translate the talent into runs. By his own admission, his omission from the 2011 ODI World Cup squad hurt him the most. Then came a turning point and his entire life turned upside down for the good.

A middle-order batter almost throughout his domestic and international career, Rohit was asked to open the innings during the 2013 Champions Trophy. This move would shape his entire career and make him the superstar that he is today. 

Rohit scored ODI double-hundreds for fun, smashed record books, and became one of the most fearsome hitters of the cricket ball in the modern era. He was supposed to make his Test debut in the Nagpur Test of 2010, but he suffered a freak injury right before the game, and it took him three more years to get a game in the longest format of the game against West Indies at the Eden Gardens. He quickly made up for lost time by smashing 177 on debut and then smacked 111 not out in the next game. 

In 2013, Rohit recorded his maiden double century against Australia, a 209 in Bengaluru. Then in 2014, all hell broke loose when Rohit amassed 264 against Sri Lanka in an ODI in Kolkata. This to date remains the highest score in the history of the ODI format. He became the first batter with three double tons in ODIs when he smoked an unbeaten 208 against Sri Lanka in Mohali in 2017.

In 2019, Rohit became the first batter to smash five centuries in a single edition of an ODI World Cup, and he was named captain of the Indian cricket team across formats in 2021 after Virat Kohli stepped down. In 2024, Rohit led India to their second T20 World Cup title, and a first in 17 years when they beat South Africa in the final. Rohit also captained the Indian team to the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup and the WTC final earlier in the year.

Rohit has in a lot of ways the Indian Premier League to thank for his revival. He won the IPL with the now-defunct Deccan Chargers in 2009, but a move to Mumbai Indians in 2011 worked wonders for him. He was made captain in 2013 and has since led the team to a record five IPL titles - in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020. He still plays for Mumbai in the IPL but is no longer the captain of the team.

Rohit has a typical Mumbai attitude: easy, free-flowing and in the face. He walks around with a swagger and is not shy of a word on the field. Off the field, Rohit is known as a player’s captain. A lot of his teammates have said how he would often take them out for dinners and make them welcome into the team. He also has a massive fan following not just in Mumbai but all over the country and is very well respected by his teammates. 

In 2024, Rohit retired from T20Is as the highest run-scorer in the history of the format shortly after India won the World Cup. He has scored a truckload of runs across formats and is one of the best cricketers to ever step onto the cricket field. 

Beyond Cricket

Rohit Sharma married his longtime girlfriend Ritika Sajdeh on December 13, 2013, in an intimate ceremony in Mumbai. They have a daughter Samaira and a son Ahaan. Rohit practices an eggetarian diet and regularly does meditation. He is quite active on social media. On X (formerly Twitter), Rohit has close to 24 million followers, while on Instagram he has over 42 million followers.

Away from cricket, Rohit has endorsed several brands including CEAT and the Swiss watchmaker Hublot. He has also endorsed major brands such as Maggi, Glow & Lovely, Lay's, Nissan, Relentless, Nasivion nasal spray, Aristocrat by VIP Industries, Adidas and Oppo mobiles.

Rohit has been felicitated with two awards by the Government of India: the Arjuna Award in 2015 and the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2020.

Rohit Sharma Records 

Rohit Sharma ODI Records

• Highest score in ODI cricket: He smashed 264 in an ODI innings against Sri Lanka in 2014, which to date is the highest score in the history of the format. 
• Most double tons in ODIs:  He has recorded three ODI double centuries, the most for any batsman in the format. 
• 300 ODI sixes: Achieved during the 2023 World Cup match against Pakistan in Ahmedabad. He is the first Indian batsman to reach this landmark. 
• Most 150+ scores in ODIs: Rohit has eight 150+ scores in ODI cricket, which is comfortably a record. 

Rohit Sharma Test Records

• Making his mark as a Test opener: In 2019, during a Test against South Africa, Rohit became the first batsman to score twin centuries in a match in his maiden appearance as an opener.
• Led India in the final of the 2023 WTC final:  He was the captain of the Indian side that made it to the final of the 2023 WTC final, where they lost to Australia.

Rohit Sharma T20I Records

• Most runs in T20I history: Rohit retired as the highest run-getter in T20Is (4231 in 151 innings)
• Most centuries in T20Is: No other batsman has more centuries in T20I cricket than Rohit’s five
• Most sixes in T20Is: Rohit has smashed 215 sixes in T20I cricket, comfortably the highest for any batsman in the format
• Led India to their second T20 World Cup title: Rohit was the captain when India broke their ICC drought and won the T20 World Cup for the first time in 17 years in 2024

Rohit Sharma Overall International Records

• Most international sixes: Achieved during the World Cup match against Afghanistan in 2023. He currently has 624 sixes, the most for any batsman.

Rohit Sharma World Cup Records

• Most centuries in a single edition of a World Cup: He smashed five centuries during the 2019 edition of the ODI World Cup, which is a record.

Rohit Sharma IPL Records

• Most IPL titles as captain: Rohit has won five titles as Mumbai Indians captain, the joint-most alongside MS Dhoni 
• Most IPL titles as a player: Rohit has won six IPL titles (one with Deccan Chargers, five with Mumbai). No other player has more titles than Rohit in the IPL.
• Highest individual score in IPL (2012): Scored 109* against Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata.
• IPL runs: Rohit is third on the list for the most IPL runs behind Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan
• Most Man of the Match awards: He has won 19 Man of the Match awards, the most for an Indian and third on the list overall behind AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle
• IPL Matches: Rohit has played 257 IPL matches and is only behind MS Dhoni in the overall list