Introduction:

Rohit Sharma is a colossal batting figure in international cricket due to his formidable batting technique. During his initial days in the sport, he started as an off-spinner who could bat in the lower order. However, his coach Dinesh Lad recognised his batting skills and assigned him the role of an opener. In the Harris and Giles Shield school cricket tournament, he showcased his batting talent notching a century on debut.

Rohit Sharma's Career information

Test Debut: India vs West Indies at Eden Gardens, November 6, 2013
ODI Debut: Ireland vs India at Civil Service Cricket Club, June 23, 2007
T20I Debut: India vs England at Kingsmead, September 19, 2007

Early domestic career:

In February 2006, Rohit Sharma made his domestic debut for West Zone in the Deodhar trophy and grabbed eyes with his knock of 142 runs off 123 deliveries against North Zone. In July 2006, he broke into first-class cricket with his debut for India A against New Zealand A at Darwin. Later, in the 2006-07 Ranji Trophy, he became a part of Mumbai and scored 205 runs in a game against Gujarat. 

International career:

Witnessing the fine batting figures of Sharma in the domestic circuit, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) picked him up for the 2007 Future Cup that featured Ireland and South Africa. He got included in the playing XI against Ireland at Belfast but didn’t bat as India won  the match comfortably with nine wickets in hand. 

In the 2007 World T20, he made his T20 International debut in the match against South Africa. Filling the boots of injured Yuvraj Singh, Sharma scored his maiden fifty that helped India win the match. Against the arch-rivals Pakistan in the final game, he contributed to the team’s victory with his rapid 30-run innings.

Following his hit show in the marquee event, the selectors showed faith in him for the One-Day International series against Pakistan at home. In the last match against the Men in Green in Jaipur, he hit a maiden half-century in a losing cause. In 2008, Sharma travelled to Australia for the Commonwealth Bank Series 2007-08 and scored 235 runs with two fifties, of which one came in the crucial first-final match against Australia in Sydney.

Lean phase:

After contributing to India’s phenomenal ODI series triumph in Australia, Sharma’s form dippedand he lost his spot to Suresh Raina. In 2010, he delivered some decent knocks to the team in the Zimbabwe Tri-Series and strived to reserve his berth for the 2011 World Cup in India. In 2011, Sharma failed to show up in the bilateral ODI tournament in South Africa and couldn’t find a place in India’s team for the 2011 World Cup. 

In June 2011, Sharma returned to the ODI team during India’s tour of the West Indies. Against the Caribbeans, the right-hander tried to regain his rhythm with a couple of half-centuries. In 2012, the explosive batter hit a new low as he could amass only 168 runs in the calendar year.

Dominance in white-ball format:

After phasing out the veterans Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir due to their poor form, MS Dhoni assigned Rohit Sharma the role of an opener in the 2013 Champions Trophy. His skipper’s move to promote him in the batting order proved beneficial as he came hard on bowlers in the marquee event.

In November 2013, he notched historic 209 runs against Australia in Bengaluru and became the third cricketer to score a double hundred in ODIs. After hitting a double century in 2013, Sharma delivered another charismatic batting performance against Sri Lanka in November 2014. At Eden Gardens, he racked up 264 runs and became the first player to score double century twice in ODIs.

Playing his second World Cup in 2019, the ferocious India opener showcased his exceptional batting skills becoming the top run-scorer. In the tournament, Sharma hit five centuries and broke the former Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Sanagakkara’s record of four tons in a World Cup. 

India Captaincy:

In December 2017, Rohit Sharma led the team phenomenally against Sri Lanka at home in the limited formats as Virat Kohli was given a rest ahead of the 2018 South Africa tour. Next year, he captained the team again and won Nidahas Trophy and Asia Cup with his leadership talent. 
In February 2022, Sharma became the full-time skipper of India after Virat Kohli gave up his Test captaincy in January.

Test career:

Sharma began his Test career in 2013 in a home series against the West Indies. Playing his debut match, he displayed confidence scoring a match-winning hundred. However, after that performance, he struggled to be among the runs in South Africa (2013-14) and Australia (2014-15) tours.

In 2018, selectors dropped Sharma from the Test team due to his dismal batting performance in the 2017-18 South Africa tour. However, the veteran featured in India whites again in the four-match Test series in Australia in 2018-19. In October 2019, he played his best Test innings against South Africa in Ranchi and helped the team to vanquish the visitors comfortably.

IPL Journey:

Sharma started his IPL career with Deccan Chargers in the inaugural season in 2008. In 2011, he joined Mumbai Indians (MI) and became a vital cog due to his brilliant batting technique. During the sixth edition of the league, MI assigned him the responsibility of captaining the team after Ricky Ponting’s failure as batter and skipper. Since then, there is no turning back for him as the veteran has won five titles with his leadership qualities and made the franchise joint most successful in the history of the tournament.

Rohit Sharma's Personal Life:

On December 13, 2015, Sharma married Ritika Sajdeh, who is a sports event manager by profession. They welcomed a daughter, whom they named Samaira Sharma. Sharma also engages in philanthropic activities as he has promoted causes of health, children, and animal welfare in the past.