38 and Still Smashing: Rohit Sharma’s Inspiring Journey of Grit and Greatness

NEW DELHI,30 APRIL 2025 : India’s ‘Hitman’ Rohit Sharma turned 38 on Wednesday, marking nearly two decades of excellence in international cricket. Since his debut in 2007 in Belfast, Rohit has gone from a promising youngster to one of the greatest white-ball players of all time. With his signature elegance, timing, and ability to demolish bowling attacks, he has built a legacy filled with records, resilience, and remarkable moments.
Early in his career, Rohit played a key role in India’s 2007 T20 World Cup triumph and the 2013 Champions Trophy win. Despite flashes of brilliance, he often found himself on the fringes, battling the tag of “unfulfilled talent.” It wasn’t until 2012, when he was promoted to opener in ODIs, that his career truly took off. From that moment, he rewrote the record books — scoring three ODI double hundreds, including the highest individual score of 264.
His dominance extended to the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he led Mumbai Indians to a record six titles. In the 2019 ODI World Cup, he hammered five centuries — the most in a single edition — further solidifying his reputation as a big-match player.
Rohit succeeded Virat Kohli as India’s all-format captain in 2022. Though India suffered a painful semifinal loss in the 2022 T20 World Cup, Rohit took accountability and focused on building a fearless, aggressive brand of cricket. This vision bore fruit in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where India remained unbeaten until the final. Rohit’s explosive starts were key to India’s dominance, but heartbreak struck again as Australia clinched the title in Ahmedabad.
However, redemption came swiftly. In 2024, Rohit led India to an unbeaten campaign in the T20 World Cup, lifting the trophy in Barbados. His standout knock — a blazing 92 off 41 balls against Australia in the Super 8s — was a statement of vengeance and authority. He retired from T20Is after the triumph, passing the torch to the next generation. Rohit continued his golden run by guiding India to another ICC title within a year, again going unbeaten. His composed 76 in the final was a fitting tribute to his legacy.
As Rohit Sharma steps into the twilight of his career, he stands tall — not just as a record-breaker, but as a symbol of patience, perseverance, and passion.