The cricket world celebrates Rohit Sharma’s 37th birthday today. A brilliant batsman and an astute captain, Rohit’s name is synonymous with elegance, power and leadership. Regarded as one of the finest players of his generation, Rohit’s talent really shines in white-ball cricket.
His strokeplay is a sight to behold – exquisite, balanced, yet explosive, and his unmatched composure under pressure, whether wielding the willow or leading from the front, continues to charm fans. The terrifying pull shot is his signature weapon, especially during the powerplay overs.
But Rohit’s adaptability is his real strength. He effortlessly transforms into a patient accumulator in Test matches, making him a true all-format great. As Rohit turns a year older, let’s take a look at the remarkable journey of this modern-day great.
Rohit Sharma cricket journey
Rohit’s international debut in 2007 marked the beginning of a stellar career. His first significant impact came in the ICC T20 World Cup the same year. After a first half-century against South Africa, he made his presence felt on the big stage with an unbeaten 30 off just 16 balls in the final against arch-rivals Pakistan. Looking like a kid, this young talent had immense potential.
For the next six years, Rohit played mainly in the middle order. However, the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy proved to be a turning point for him. Partnering with Shikhar Dhawan at the top of the order, he scored 177 runs at an average of 35.40 including two crucial half-centuries in India’s victorious campaign. This change gave a new dimension to his batting.
The role of an opener unleashed Rohit’s true potential. In ODIs, he has scored 10,709 runs in 262 matches at an impressive average of 49.12. His record-breaking 264-run innings against Sri Lanka stands as the highest individual score in ODI history. He has scored 31 centuries and 55 half-centuries, cementing his place among the batsmen.
Notably, he is the 15th-highest run-scorer in ODIs and the sixth-highest run-scorer among Indians, behind legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. Rohit’s brilliance extends beyond limited-overs cricket as well. Despite a slow start, he established himself as a dependable opener in Tests as well, scoring 4137 runs in 59 matches at an average of 45.46. His technique and temperament at the crease have played a key role in India’s success in the longer format.
IPL and India legend Rohit’s leadership qualities have shone in the T20 arena. He holds the record for winning the most IPL titles (6), having led Mumbai Indians to an unprecedented five championships and won one title with the now-defunct Deccan Chargers. With 6522 runs, he is also the fourth-highest run-scorer in IPL history, a reflection of his consistency across formats. Fans fondly call him the ‘Hitman’, which is a testimony to his ability to single-handedly demolish bowling attacks.
The 2023 ODI World Cup saw Rohit display another masterclass. He became the second-highest run-scorer with 597 runs, proving his dominance on the biggest stage. Currently, Rohit is playing for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024 and even though he is no longer the captain, the veteran continues to play a leadership role in MI, motivating his teammates with his experience and skills.
Rohit’s cricketing journey is not over yet. As he celebrates another year, his legacy as a great batsman and inspirational captain is already firmly established. His ability to adapt, dominate, and lead makes him a true legend of the game. The cricket fraternity is eagerly awaiting his next chapter, which promises more records, more glorious moments and most importantly – more trophies to win, starting with the T20 World Cup, as Rohit is set to lead India in his third ICC tournament.
Rohit Sharma Family
Rohit Sharma parents
Rohit Sharma is the most successful captain in the history of IPL. Rohit Sharma, popularly known as Hitman, is the only batsman to score three ODI double centuries. Rohit was born in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
Due to his father’s financial difficulties, he was sent to Borivali, where he lived with his grandparents and uncles. Rohit’s childhood coach Dinesh Lad played a vital role in his rise to the top.
Rohit Sharma was born to Gurunath Sharma and Purnima Sharma on 30 April 1987 in Nagpur, Maharashtra. His father Gurunath Sharma was a caretaker of a warehouse of a transport firm. As mentioned further, his income was a little low. Gurunath and his family lived in a one-room house in the Dombivali area.
Rohit Sharma’s mother Purnima Sharma is from Visakhapatnam. She is a housewife. Purnima revealed in one of her interviews that she is extremely proud of Rohit’s 137-run innings against Bangladesh in the Cricket World Cup 2015. Also, Purnima said that Rohit spent most of his childhood playing.
Rohit Sharma’s Brother
Many fans might not know that Rohit Sharma also has a younger brother named Vishal Sharma. Rohit has been very supportive of his family. In one of his interviews, Vishal revealed that Rohit had asked him to quit his job and manage the Rohit Sharma cricket academies in India and Singapore.
Ritika Sajdeh Rohit Sharma’s Wife
Indian cricketer and former Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma, often referred to as the ‘Hitman’ due to his powerful batting, is an inspiration to many. In 2015, Rohit married Ritika Sajdeh, and since then the couple has given birth to a daughter named Samaira. Although Rohit comes from a simple background, many are surprised to know about his connection to Bollywood through his wife’s family.
Ritika was Rohit Sharma’s manager before they started dating. She used to work at Cornerstone Sports in Mumbai, which is a company owned by his cousin Bunty Sajdeh. Rohit Sharma and Ritika began dating in 2008, got married in 2015 and welcomed their daughter about three years later.
Ritika is very much connected to Bollywood; her cousin Bunty is the CEO of Cornerstone Sports, which represents famous athletes like Sania Mirza and KL Rahul.
Also, Ritika’s other cousin Seema Sajdeh is a fashion designer and was married to Sohail Khan, who is Salman Khan’s brother. Seema and Sohail were married from 1998 to 2022 and have two sons, Nirvaan and Yohan.
