The game that kickstarted Rohit Sharma's rise

Rohit Sharma (Source /Getty Images)

Former Indian captain Rohit Sharma is among the most successful leaders in modern cricket, having guided India to titles in the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Under his leadership, Mumbai Indians (MI) also claimed a record five IPL titles, making him one of the most decorated captains in the game’s history.

Recently, Rohit starred in the three-match ODI series against Australia, earning the Player of the Series award with one half-century and one century. His consistency with the bat also saw him rise to the No. 1 spot in the ICC ODI Batting Rankings for the first time. The Nagpur-born cricketer has since retired from Test cricket and T20Is, finishing with 4301 runs in Tests and 4231 runs in T20Is. He now focuses solely on ODIs, aiming to represent India in the 2027 World Cup.

Which was the match where Rohit Sharma’s success started?

Before achieving all this success, Rohit began his international career as a middle-order batter, known for flashes of brilliance but lacking consistency. His career took a decisive turn during the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, when then-captain MS Dhoni promoted him to open the innings alongside Shikhar Dhawan. The move paid off instantly, as Rohit scored a series of impressive fifties and built a formidable opening partnership.

However, the true turning point came later that year during the second ODI against Australia in Jaipur. Chasing a mammoth 360-run target, Rohit played a breathtaking innings of 141* off 123 balls, smashing 17 fours and four sixes, guiding India to victory in just 43.3 overs.

The knock not only sealed India’s win but also marked the moment Rohit truly arrived as a world-class opener. He followed it up in the same series with his first ODI double century, beginning a record-breaking streak that now includes three double hundreds, the most by any player in ODI history.

Even today, as Shubman Gill leads India’s next generation, Rohit’s presence and guidance remain invaluable, a living symbol of leadership and batting excellence.