Rohit Sharma is not just a name it’s an emotion that beats in the hearts of every cricket fan. People affectionately call him “Hitman Sharma,” but you might be surprised to know that Rohit did not start his cricket career as a batsman, but as a bowler. It might sound unusual, but that is the reality. Let’s look into the story of how an off-spinner transformed into Hitman Sharma.

Rohit Sharma was born in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Due to financial struggles, he was forced to live with his grandparents and uncle and aunt in Borivali. Here, he attended Swami Vivekanand International School & Junior College, Mumbai. The credit for refining his cricketing talent goes to his childhood coach, Dinesh Lad.
Rohit initially started his career as an off-spinner and focused heavily on bowling during his school days. However, his coach Dinesh Lad recognized his batting talent and gradually promoted him from the lower order to an opening batsman, placing significant emphasis on his batting. Thus, he completed his transition from an off-spin bowler to a full-fledged batsman.

Rohit Sharma made his ODI debut in 2007 against Ireland under Rahul Dravid’s captaincy. His journey wasn’t limited to ODIs; that same year, he made his T20 debut directly in the T20 World Cup under the leadership of the newly appointed captain, “Captain Cool” (MS Dhoni).

Even several years after his debut, he did not achieve the stature he deserved, and his career went through many ups and downs. However, the moment finally arrived when his talent received the respect it warranted. In 2013, he achieved this by scoring a double century against Australia at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.
He didn’t stop there. The following year, he played his career-best knock of 264 runs against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens a record that has remained untouched for 12 years. After this match, he earned the nickname “Hitman Sharma,” a name that became legendary in the cricketing world.
Rohit Sharma hasn’t lagged behind in terms of earnings either. His income from brand endorsements, BCCI central contracts, and IPL fees is substantial. Under the BCCI Grade B contract, he earns ₹3 crore annually, alongside separate match fees:
Test Match Fee: ₹15 lakh
ODI Match Fee: ₹6 lakh
T20I Match Fee: ₹3 lakh

Hitman has retired from Tests and T20Is and stepped down from ODI captaincy. Rohit Sharma now plays only one format, wearing the blue jersey for India exclusively in ODIs.
Mumbai Indians retained Hitman for ₹16.33 crore, and he emerged as the most successful captain in the league, holding the record for the most IPL trophies won as a captain (5 trophies). Due to his immense success in the IPL, fans affectionately call him “Mumbai cha Raja” (King of Mumbai).
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia says, “He is playing superbly in all matches. So what more do you want? In the last match, he scored well. So why is there speculation? I do not want to give fodder for the speculators.”
World Cup Career Statistics:
2015: 8 Matches | 330 Runs | 47.14 Avg | 1 Century | Best: 137
2019: 9 Matches | 648 Runs | 81.00 Avg | 5 Centuries | Best: 140
2023: 11 Matches | 597 Runs | 54.27 Avg | 1 Century | Best: 131
Total: 28 Matches | 1,575 Runs | 60.57 Avg | 7 Centuries | Best: 140
As captain in the 2023 World Cup, he scored 597 runs, including 1 century and 3 half-centuries. His strike rate of 125.9 helped India set explosive starts at the top.
Overall, with 1,575 runs, 7 centuries, and 6 half-centuries in 28 World Cup matches, Rohit is the highest century-scorer in World Cup history.

His vast experience will be crucial for upcoming World Cup matches. He is known to play in “beast mode” during World Cups, making his presence in India’s blue jersey vital—a fact the BCCI recognizes well. The BCCI Secretary’s statement points toward the same conclusion: Hitman isn’t going anywhere. He is set to play in the 2027 World Cup and replicate the Barbados victory by hoisting the Indian flag in South Africa.

Also Read: https://jantajagran.com/virat-kohli-surpasses-bollywoods-king-khan/