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Rohit Sharma, renowned for his exceptional batting and leadership, is currently serving as the captain of the Indian national cricket team in Test and One Day International (ODI) formats. He has previously captained the side in Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) as well. After India clinched the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Rohit retired from T20Is.
Rohit, a right-handed batsman, widely regarded as one of the finest batsmen of his generation and one of the greatest opening batters in the world. He has achieved several milestones in domestic as well as his international career.
He holds the record for the most runs in T20 Internationals and the most sixes in international cricket. The 37-year-old is also the only player to score three double centuries in ODIs and holds the record for the highest individual ODI score (264) to date. In addition, he has the most centuries at Cricket World Cups (7) and has achieved five hundreds in T20I format, making him the first player to achieve this feat.
He represents Mumbai Indians (MI) In the Indian Premier League (IPL) and has been a key player for the team. He is the leading run scorer for Mumbai and have led them to record-equaling five IPL titles (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020).
International Career
Test Matches
Rohit made his Test debut during Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell series in November 2013. He showcased his prowess in the very first assignment, scoring 177 runs at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. This score marked the second-highest debut score by an Indian, after Shikhar Dhawan’s 187. The 37-year-old continued to impress with an unbeaten 111 in the second Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
After a brief hiatus from the squad, he was recalled for the 2018–19 tour of Australia. In his first Test in Adelaide, he managed to score only 37 and 1, contributing to India’s victory. He missed the second Test but returned for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, scoring an unbeaten 63 and helping India win the match and the series.
He scored his first double-century in Tests in October 2019, during the third Test against South Africa. He was later named as vice-captain of the Test side for the 2020 tour of Australia. In the 2021 home series against England, he scored a century in the second Test and helped India win the game by 317 runs. The 37-year-old also contributed significantly to the third Test in Ahmedabad, top-scoring with 66 and 25. On 4 September 2021, he scored his first overseas Test century with 127 at The Oval and also reached the milestone of 3,000 runs in the format. In February 2022, he took up India’s captaincy role, succeeding Virat Kohli.
One Day Internationals (ODIs)
Rohit Sharma made his ODI debut on 23 June 2007 against Ireland. He scored his first ODI fifty (52) against India’s arch-rivals Pakistan in November 2007. Meanwhile, he scored his first-ever ODI century (114) against Zimbabwe on 28 May 2010, followed by another ton against Sri Lanka.
After a period of shoddy form, his career was revived in 2013 when he was promoted to opening batter in the ICC Champions Trophy, which India won. He scored an unbeaten 141 in Jaipur and 209 in Bengaluru against Australia. In addition, he broke the record for the highest score in an ODI innings with 264 runs on 13 November 2014 against Sri Lanka.
Rohit was named as ODI captain for the series against Sri Lanka in December 2017, leading India to a 2–1 win. He achieved an individual milestone during that series, scoring his third ODI double-century. In September 2018, he captained India to victory in the 2018 Asia Cup. Meanwhile, he reached the 8,000-run mark in March 2019. In July 2022, he became the first Indian captain to lead the team to series wins in both T20I and ODI formats in England.
Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is)
Rohit showcased his prowess in the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, scoring an unbeaten 50 against South Africa and helping India reach the final. Meanwhile, on 2 October 2015, he scored a century against the Proteas and became the second Indian to score centuries in all three formats of international cricket.
In December 2017, he achieved a new feat, scoring the joint-fastest T20I century in just 35 balls, ending with 118 from 43 deliveries. On 8 July 2018, he became the second Indian to reach 2,000 T20I runs and scored his third century in the format. He set a new record for the most T20I centuries, scoring another hundred in November 2018.
In the following year, he became the most-capped Indian cricketer in T20Is, playing his 100th match. In 2022, he led India to 14 consecutive T20I victories, which also marked another record in his illustrious career. He has participated in the T20 World Cup since its inception in 2007 and is the only Indian cricketer to do so.
In October 2022, he broke the record for the most sixes by an Indian in T20 World Cups. He led India to win the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and later announced his retirement from T20Is but confirmed his continued participation in the other two formats.
Rohit Sharma’s successful career in Indian Premier League
In October 2022, he broke the record for the most sixes by an Indian in T20 World Cups. He led India to win the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and later announced his retirement from T20Is but confirmed his continued participation in the other two formats.
Rohit started his IPL career in 2008 with the Deccan Chargers (now defunct). He was then acquired by the Mumbai Indians in 2011 for US$2 million. The 37-year-old scored his maiden IPL hundred in 2012 with 109* against Kolkata Knight Riders. In 2024, he scored his second IPL century with 105* against Chennai Super Kings. Under his captaincy, Mumbai won five IPL titles.
Achievements
Indian Premier League (IPL)
- Player of the Match Awards: He holds the record for the most Player of the Match awards in IPL history with 19 awards
National Honours
- Arjuna Award: 2015
- Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna: 2020
Sporting Honours
- ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year: 2019
- ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year: 2014 (12th man), 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023 (captain)
- ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Decade: 2011–2020
- ICC Men’s T20I Team of the Decade: 2011–2020
- ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year: 2021
