It was June 23rd, 2007 when the then-obscure, yet ubiquitous name of Rohit Sharma featured on an Indian cricket team sheet for the first time. Even the game itself seemed of little importance- an ODI against Ireland at Belfast. To top it all off, those who had tuned in to watch this game did not even get to have a look at what this youngster might be capable of- as he didn’t even get to bat on that particular day. Hardly a debut worth remembering.
Fast-forward 15 years, and it is safe to say that not just us Indians, but the entire cricketing world is more than aware of what this stylish, yet destructive right-handed cricketer is capable of with the bat!
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Scoring the most double centuries in the limited-overs game- an unparalleled 3 times, including the highest ever score by a single batsman when he thrashed the hapless Sri Lankans for 264 runs all by himself, scoring the most centuries in a single edition of the world cup when he hit 5 tons in the 2019 edition that saw him get chosen as the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year award that year, being further selected in the ICC Men’s ODI Teams of the Year in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2019 as well as in the ICC Teams of the Decade in both ODIs and T20Is, the now 34-year-old has carved out a career that shall see him remembered for the times to come as a bona fide global cricketing legend.
On this special day- the 15th anniversary of his debut, Rohit Sharma penned an emotional message for his fans which he shared on Instagram today.
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The opening batter captioned his note, “15 years in my favourite jersey” and thanked everyone who has been a part of his journey.
“Hello everyone, today I’ll be completing 15 years of international cricket since I made my debut for India. What a journey it has been, surely one that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.
“I just want to thank everyone who has been a part of this journey and a special thanks to the people who helped me become the player that I am today. To all the cricket lovers, fans and critics your love and support for the team are what gets us over those hurdles we all inevitably come across. Thanking you, RS”.
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The journey continues, as India led by Rohit Sharma shall take on England in the rescheduled 5th Test at Edgbaston on July 1st, before locking horns with the British in a 3-match T20I series and a 3-match ODI series.
Rohit is also expected to lead his country in the T20 World Cup being held in Australia later this year. Unlike on that fateful day in Belfast 15 years ago, all eyes shall be on him!
