Archan Mehta
When Rohit Sharma picks up the bat, boundaries pack their bags and get ready to travel. From a promising youngster in 2007 to one of the finest ODI batters by 2025, his journey has been pure cinema complete with heartbreaks, comebacks, and fireworks. Over 273 matches, he amassed 11,168 runs at an average near 49, decorated with three double centuries. But beyond the numbers, it was his effortless grace, those silken cover drives and lazy pulls that turned batting into an art form. Between 2017 and 2025, his average climbed above 52, making him the most consistent white-ball artist of his time. Against Pakistan, he turned pressure into poetry; against Sri Lanka, dominance into habit.
Leadership didn’t change Rohit, it revealed him. When he became India’s full-time ODI captain in 2017, he didn’t roar, he just smiled the kind of smile that says, “Relax boys, I’ve got this.” Taking over from Dhoni and Kohli was no small task, but Rohit led with calm authority. In 56 ODIs as captain, he guided India to 42 wins at a stunning 75% success rate. But more than victories, he brought the vibe back to Indian cricket. Players said he listened before he led, and that small difference created a big culture shift. The dressing room became lighter, the team tighter. Under Rohit, India didn’t just play together they gelled together.
Then came the turning point, the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal loss. Many would’ve sulked, but Rohit reloaded. He declared that India needed a new aggressive, modern, and fearless DNA. And he didn’t preach from the sidelines; he led from the front. Suddenly, his strike rate shot up, his intent skyrocketed, and his message was loud: “If I want my team to attack, I’ll do it first.”
When Rohit Sharma started opening like a man possessed, even Powerplays began applying for hazard pay. The 2023 ODI World Cup became his masterpiece 597 runs at a strike rate of 125, setting India’s tempo with fearless precision. Under his calm but commanding leadership, India didn’t crawl to 300; they cruised there. His style was more than evolution; it was rebellion, a message that Team India was done playing safe. The results were spectacular: India won 10 of 11 matches in the 2023 World Cup before redemption arrived with an unbeaten 2025 Champions Trophy campaign, where Rohit lifted both the cup and a nation’s spirits. With two Asia Cup titles (2018 and 2023) and over 1,300 runs in ICC tournaments at an average above 52, Rohit didn’t just win trophies he built a blueprint for fearless, modern Indian cricket.
Historically, India’s captains have had their signatures: Kapil Dev’s boldness, Dhoni’s calm, Kohli’s aggression. Rohit found the middle ground called balance. He wasn’t loud like Kohli or ice-cool like Dhoni, but he mixed their best traits with empathy. His 75% win record as captain puts him in the company of legends like Clive Lloyd and Ricky Ponting. But beyond stats, it was his human touch that set him apart. He gave players freedom, backed them through slumps, and turned tension into trust. Under him, Indian cricket looked fun again. As one teammate joked, “With Rohit bhai, even team meetings feel like stand-up comedy.”
Now, as the torch passes to Shubman Gill, the transition feels organized not a handover, but a continuation. At just 26, Gill has grown under Rohit’s mentorship and carries forward his fearless philosophy. The 2027 ODI World Cup may be Gill’s mission, but it’s being built on Rohit’s foundation. The selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, aren’t replacing a leader; they’re preparing the next one. With Rohit now 38 and set to touch 40 by the next World Cup this moment offers the perfect opportunity for a smooth passing of the baton. Training under Rohit’s presence in the team gives Gill invaluable time to shape his leadership while drawing from the calm storm himself.
Every time India starts attacking from ball one, you’ll know who wrote that script. Rohit Sharma didn’t just lead Indian ODI cricket, he rewired its heartbeat.
Archan Mehta is a writer dedicated to telling compelling stories about athletes, teams, and the world of cricket
