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India’s all-format opener, Rohit Sharma, celebrated his 33rd birthday on Thursday. Tracing his career graph, it has been one of the fascinating ones for ardent Indian cricket fanatics.
Rohit came into the reckoning at the international level during the U19 World Cup in 2006. Shortly after, he made his limited-overs debut during the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup in South Africa where he impressed one all with his potential, with his pivotal knocks against Pakistan in the finals, and South Africa in the group stages.
The ‘Hitman’ accumulated global adulation with his outing at Sydney with Sachin Tendulkar in the 2008 Commonwealth Bank Tri-series in Australia.
Few seasons down the line, Rohit became an integral part of the Indian team in coloured clothing. However, the talented Mumbai batsmen received a substantial amount of flak due to his tendency to give his wicket away and wasting opportunities.
Also, Sharma missed out on his berth in the Indian side during the 2011 ODI World Cup due to his inconsistency.
However, selectors, management and captain MS Dhoni kept backing his abilities and potential, thereby, persisting with the flamboyant stroke maker.
MSD identified that to make a star out of the Mumbaikar, he had to push him up the order. Dhoni gave Rohit an opportunity at the top during the 2009 T20 World Cup, in the absence of Virender Sehwag.
Then, again he got the opportunity to bat at the top during the 2013 Champions Trophy in England. This time around, Rohit did not let go of it and opened the floodgates, oozing runs from his blade.
Rohit now has the best ODI score in an innings, the most number of double centuries and 150+ scores in ODIs and ended up with five majestic tons in the 2019 ODI World Cup. Also, he has the fastest T20I hundred, four IPL titles to his name along with several other glories.
To celebrate the birthday of Hitman of Indian cricket, let us look at some of the famous quotes on him:
Sunil Gavaskar:
“Rohit is someone who is really special from the rest of the Cricketers. He has three-four shots ready for every ball.”
MS Dhoni:
“Rohit is a God-Gifted Talent.”
Matthew Hayden:
“I watched Rohit’s game a couple of times. He reminds me of Mark Waugh.”
Sourav Ganguly:
“Rohit has got so much talent when people watch him play, they say Wow! and hopefully he does well for India.”
Virat Kohli:
“I would love to take singles and come to non-striker end so that I can watch Rohit’s batting; I’m a big fan of Rohit’s batting; I love to bat with Rohit.”
Herschelle Gibbs:
“I am a huge fan of Rohit Sharma, He had definitely taken the cricket to another level.”
Ravi Shastri
“Don’t Change the Channel When Rohit Sharma comes out to bat, by the time you come back he’ll be gone far away.”
Ian Chappell:
“India has found it’s No.4 Test Match Batsmen after Tendulkar”
Gautam Gambhir:
“If you as me whom I fear more as an opposition captain, I will say Rohit Sharma. Rohit can hurt you more than Kohli.”
Virender Sehwag:
“When Rohit Sharma was born Doctor said, ‘Congrats! Talent is born’.”
Sachin Tendulkar:
“Always a joy to watch him bat.”
Ricky Ponting:
“He is probably the best T20 player I have ever seen.”
