On This Day in 1987: The Birth of Cricket’s Legendary “Hitman”

Known as the “Hitman”, he has a unique ability to score daddy hundreds. Under his captaincy, India clinched two ICC trophies and On this special day, let’s celebrate Rohit Sharma’s incredible journey by looking at his impressive numbers for the Indian Cricket Team.

Early Life of Rohit Sharma

Being one of the most loved and likeable cricketers in India, Rohit Sharma has been brilliant for the team. Born on 30th April 1987 in Bansod, Nagpur, Maharashtra, to a Telugu-Marathi-speaking family, Rohit faced financial struggles from an early age as his father, Gurunath Sharma worked as a caretaker for a transport firm’s storehouse, and the family’s financial situation was tough. Rohit was raised by his grandparents and uncles in Borivali, who lived in a simple single-room house in Dombivli, only on weekends.

Despite these hard things in life, Rohit’s passion for cricket never got off and in 1999, Rohit’s uncle helped him join a cricket camp where he caught the attention of coach Dinesh Lad. Recognizing his potential, Lad recommended that he change schools to Swami Vivekanand International School, where better cricket facilities were available and despite being unable to afford the tuition, Rohit was granted a scholarship, which allowed him to pursue his passion without financial worries.

Rohit started as an off-spinner and he quickly made a name for himself as a batsman after Lad promoted him to open the innings and with this, he started to prove his worth in the school tournaments like Harris and Giles Shield and scoring a century on debut as an opener, as his early life wasn’t easy and it wasn’t until later that his hard work started to pay off. Rohit even faced rejection from the iconic Wankhede Stadium, where he was not allowed to enter due to his humble background.

International Career of Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma’s international career began in June 2007 when he made his ODI debut against Ireland and he didn’t get a chance to bat in that match, but his talent was evident early on and over the next 17 years, he evolved into one of the most dominant and elegant batsmen in cricket history, breaking records and delivering match-winning performances across all formats.

Rohit initially struggled to cement his place in the Indian team, fluctuating between the middle order and bench strength. But his Test debut in 2013 was nothing short of spectacular and against the West Indies at Eden Gardens, he announced his arrival with a sublime 177, the second-highest score by an Indian on debut. He followed it up with an unbeaten 111 in Mumbai, proving his ability to play long, composed innings.

Despite a strong start, his Test career faced hurdles due to injuries and inconsistency. However, he made crucial contributions when it mattered. Like his gritty 63* in Melbourne (2018) to help India secure a historic series win in Australia. His maiden Test double-century (212 vs. South Africa in 2019) showcased his ability to dominate attacks, and by 2021, he became India’s first-choice Test opener, adapting brilliantly to overseas conditions with a century at The Oval.

Rohit’s ODI career transformed when he was promoted to open the innings in 2013 and the move unlocked his full potential, turning him into a run-machine as his ability to build innings and explode in the later overs made him a nightmare for bowlers as he holds the record for the highest individual ODI score (264 vs. Sri Lanka, 2014), a breathtaking inning that included 33 fours and 9 sixes. He is also the only player with three ODI double-centuries which shows how good he has been while playing the big knocks.

However, his 2019 World Cup campaign was legendary as he became the first batsman to score five centuries in a single World Cup and finishing as the tournament’s highest run-scorer (648 runs) and his effortless six-hitting and flawless timing made him stand out, as he equalled Sachin Tendulkar’s record of six World Cup centuries, later breaking it in the 2023 World Cup with his seventh ton.

Rohit was part of India’s historic 2007 T20 World Cup win, playing a crucial unbeaten 50 against South Africa in a must-win game and over the years, he became one of the most successful T20I batsmen who was known for his explosive starts and ability to accelerate at will. He is the only player with five T20I centuries, a record that highlights his dominance in the shortest format and his 118 off 43 balls against Sri Lanka (2017) remains one of the most destructive T20I innings ever. He also holds the record for the most sixes by an Indian in T20 World Cups, surpassing Yuvraj Singh.

Rohit Sharma is unique in the sense that he makes batting appear so simple. With his wristy flicks, lofted drives, and pull shots, he has been a pleasure to watch. What truly differentiates him is the fact that he can change gears as he begins his innings at a relaxed pace and then abruptly begins hitting boundaries with such ease. Rohit also understands how to play under pressure and this is what makes him a player of the highest calibre in the cricketing world for the Indian team.

Rohit recently retired from T20 internationals, leaving behind a great legacy and has scored more than 10,000 runs in ODIs, over 4,000 runs in T20Is, and over 4,000 runs in Tests. These statistics indicate just how incredible he has been in all forms and his capacity to handle changes, set records, and play in high-stakes matches makes him one of India’s greatest-ever players.

Rohit Sharma’s Captaincy Career

Rohit Sharma’s influence has not only come from his batting but also as captain as he has become one of India’s most successful all-time captains. When he became the captain after MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, he created his own legacy with smart tactics and many wins as he started his leadership career with Mumbai Indians in the IPL and led them to become the most successful team. Under his captaincy, MI won five IPL trophies in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020 and Rohit’s leadership skills have made him one of the best IPL captains ever.

Under Rohit’s leadership, MI became a formidable team, managing pressure consistently. Moreover, his side also created superstar cricketers out of younger players like Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya. He has also led MI to a T20 Champions League title in 2013. For India, his leadership was most significant in limited-overs competitions leading the team to Asia Cup titles in 2018 (ODI) and the 2023 (T20), both without loss in 2023 he went through the tournament without losing a match. His ODI captaincy record shows a 74.54% win ratio while in T20s it was 74.41%, including a record 14 wins in a row.

The biggest exclamation point came in 2024 when Rohit ended India’s 11-year drought of an ICC Trophy by winning the T20 World Cup, and then followed that with winning the 2025 Champions Trophy. While the lowest point in test match captaincy included Rohit suffering the rare loss for India at home in the Test Match series, But Rohit’s calm nature, decisiveness, and willingness to make big calls, along with his incredible talent as a cricketer have become his trademarks.