Rohit Sharma is one of India’s most recognizable modern cricketers, known for his elegant batting, powerful stroke play, and remarkable ODI records. From making his international debut in 2007 to becoming India’s captain and reaching 12,000 ODI runs, his career has covered several major stages of Indian cricket.
Rohit Sharma is an Indian right-handed batter who made his international debut in 2007. He has played Tests, ODIs, T20Is, and IPL cricket, and became one of the most successful opening batters in limited-overs cricket.
As of September 30, 2026, he has played 290 ODIs and scored 12,028 runs, including 35 centuries and 62 fifties. He remains active in ODI cricket after retiring from Test and T20I cricket. (The Times of India)
Who Is Rohit Sharma?
Rohit Gurunath Sharma is an Indian international cricketer and top-order batter. He was born on April 30, 1987, and bats right-handed. His international career began with an ODI against Ireland in June 2007, followed by his T20I debut later that year. He made his Test debut against West Indies in November 2013. (The Times of India)
His career took a major turn when he moved into the opening role in ODI cricket. That change allowed him to use his timing, range of strokes, and ability to build long innings more effectively.
He later became India’s captain across formats and led the team during several major ICC tournaments.
Early Career and International Debut
The early part of his international career was not as statistically dominant as the period that followed. He initially played as a middle-order batter and had to compete for a regular place in a strong Indian batting lineup.
His ODI debut came on June 23, 2007, against Ireland. He made his T20I debut against England in September 2007. His Test debut came against West Indies at Eden Gardens in November 2013. (The Times of India)
The move to opening in ODI cricket became one of the defining decisions of his career.
How His ODI Career Changed
Rohit Sharma developed into an especially dangerous ODI opener because he could combine patience with powerful acceleration.
His batting often follows a recognizable pattern:
- He watches the ball carefully during the early overs.
- He uses timing to find boundaries rather than relying only on power.
- Once established, he increases the scoring rate.
- He can convert a strong start into a very large individual score.
That approach helped produce some of the biggest ODI innings in cricket history.
In September 2026, he reached another major milestone by passing 12,000 ODI runs. ICC reported that he became the seventh batter overall and the third Indian to reach the mark. (icc)
Rohit Sharma ODI Stats
As of the end of the second ODI against West Indies on September 30, 2026, his ODI record stands at:
| Statistic | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 290 |
| Innings | 282 |
| Runs | 12,028 |
| Average | 49.09 |
| Strike rate | 93.28 |
| Highest score | 264 |
| Centuries | 35 |
| Fifties | 62 |
| Sixes | 378 |
| Fours | 1,138 |
These figures are reported by current player-stat databases and match reporting following his 101 against West Indies. (The Times of India)
The 264 Against Sri Lanka
One of the most famous innings of his career came against Sri Lanka in Kolkata on November 13, 2014.
He scored 264 runs, which remains the highest individual score in men’s ODI cricket. He faced 173 balls and hit 33 fours and 9 sixes during the innings. (The Times of India)
The innings also showed one of his defining qualities: the ability to turn a long stay at the crease into an extremely high score.
Three ODI Double Centuries
Rohit Sharma holds a unique ODI record.
He is the only batter to have scored three ODI double centuries:
- 209 against Australia in 2013
- 264 against Sri Lanka in 2014
- 208 not out against Sri Lanka in 2017
ICC identifies him as the only batter to have reached 200 three times in men’s ODI cricket. (icc)
Reaching 12,000 ODI Runs
On September 30, 2026, Sharma reached 12,000 ODI runs during India’s match against West Indies in Guwahati.
He scored 101 from 75 balls and became the third Indian after Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli to reach the milestone. (The Indian Express)
The achievement came in his 282nd ODI innings. It added another major statistical milestone to an already extensive ODI record.
Test Career
His Test career began in 2013 and eventually became another important part of his development as a batter.
He finished with:
| Test Statistic | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 67 |
| Runs | 4,301 |
| Average | 40.58 |
| Centuries | 12 |
| Fifties | 18 |
| Highest score | 212 |
BCCI confirmed his Test retirement in May 2025. It also noted that he had scored 4,301 runs, including 12 centuries, across 67 Tests. (BCCI)
His Test career included a successful transition from middle-order batting to opening, particularly during the later part of his red-ball career.
T20I Career
Rohit also had a long T20I career with India.
His final T20I statistics were:
- 159 matches
- 4,231 runs
- Average of 32.05
- Strike rate of 140.89
- 5 centuries
- 32 fifties
- Highest score of 121 not out
He retired from T20I cricket in 2024 after India’s T20 World Cup victory. (Moneycontrol)
Captaincy and Leadership
Rohit Sharma became one of India’s leading captains during the 2020s.
His leadership period included the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup. India reached the 2023 ODI World Cup final under his captaincy and won the 2024 T20 World Cup. (The Indian Express)
His captaincy style generally involved aggressive batting intent and an emphasis on attacking options. His leadership was also visible in the way India approached powerplay batting during his tenure.
In 2026, Shubman Gill was named India’s ODI captain, while Rohit remained part of the ODI squad. BCCI’s September 16 squad announcement listed Gill as captain and Sharma among the ODI players for the West Indies series. (BCCI)
2023 ODI World Cup
The 2023 World Cup became one of the notable chapters of his leadership career.
As captain, Sharma adopted an aggressive approach at the top of the order. Rather than spending many overs simply settling in, he often attacked during the powerplay and tried to give India a fast start.
India reached the final before losing to Australia.
2024 T20 World Cup
The 2024 T20 World Cup provided a different ending.
India won the tournament, with Rohit serving as captain. After the competition, he retired from T20I cricket, ending a format career that had lasted from 2007 to 2024. (The Indian Express)
IPL Career and Mumbai Indians
Rohit Sharma has also had a long IPL career.
He has represented Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians, with Mumbai Indians becoming the central franchise chapter of his IPL career.
Current career databases list him with 281 IPL matches, 7,329 runs, two centuries and 49 fifties. (NDTV Sports)
His IPL career is also closely associated with leadership. He captained Mumbai Indians during multiple title-winning campaigns and became one of the franchise’s most recognizable players.
Why Is He Called the Hitman?
Hitman is the nickname most commonly associated with Rohit Sharma.
The nickname fits his reputation for powerful stroke play, particularly his ability to hit sixes and produce huge scores once he settles at the crease.
It should be understood as a cricket nickname rather than a formal title.
Rohit Sharma’s Batting Style
His batting combines several strengths:
- Excellent timing
- Strong pull and hook shots
- Powerful lofted strokes
- Ability to hit sixes without appearing rushed
- Patience during the early part of an innings
- Ability to accelerate after reaching a comfortable position
- Strong performance as an ODI opener
One interesting feature of his batting is that he often makes difficult-looking shots appear technically simple.
Major Records
Some of his most notable records and achievements include:
Highest Individual ODI Score
His 264 against Sri Lanka remains the highest individual score in men’s ODI cricket. (icc)
Three ODI Double Centuries
He remains the only batter with three ODI double centuries. (icc)
12,000 ODI Runs
He became the third Indian and seventh overall batter to reach 12,000 ODI runs. (icc)
35 ODI Centuries
His 101 against West Indies in September 2026 took his ODI century total to 35. (The Indian Express)
378 ODI Sixes
Current statistics list 378 ODI sixes after 290 matches. (The Times of India)
Rohit Sharma and the 2027 ODI World Cup
Rohit remains involved in India’s ODI setup in 2026.
BCCI included him in India’s ODI squad for the home series against West Indies in September 2026, with Shubman Gill named captain. (BCCI)
ICC also reported after his 12,000-run milestone that Rohit had spoken about looking ahead to the 2027 World Cup. (icc)
His future ODI role therefore remains connected with India’s preparations for the next 50-over World Cup.
Rohit Sharma vs Virat Kohli
Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have played major roles in India’s modern batting history, but their batting styles are different.
| Feature | Rohit Sharma | Virat Kohli |
|---|---|---|
| Batting style | Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Main ODI role | Opener | Top-order batter |
| ODI strength | Power, timing and large scores | Run accumulation and consistency |
| ODI double centuries | 3 | 0 |
| ODI highest score | 264 | 183 |
| ODI runs in 2026 | 12,028 | More than 14,000 |
| Major leadership role | India captain | India captain |
The two have also played together for India for many years, making their careers an important part of the same era of Indian cricket.
Common Questions About Rohit Sharma
Is Rohit Sharma still playing cricket?
Yes. As of October 2026, he remains active in ODI cricket. He has retired from Test and T20I cricket but continues to appear for India in ODIs. (BCCI)
What is Rohit Sharma’s highest ODI score?
His highest ODI score is 264 against Sri Lanka in 2014. It remains the highest individual score in men’s ODI cricket. (icc)
How many ODI runs does Rohit Sharma have?
As of September 30, 2026, he has scored 12,028 ODI runs in 290 matches. (The Times of India)
How many ODI centuries does Rohit Sharma have?
He has scored 35 ODI centuries as of September 30, 2026. His latest came against West Indies in Guwahati. (The Indian Express)
Why is Rohit Sharma called the Hitman?
Hitman is his well-known cricket nickname, linked to his reputation for powerful batting and his ability to hit large numbers of sixes.
How many double centuries has Rohit Sharma scored in ODIs?
He has scored three ODI double centuries, making him the only batter to achieve the feat in men’s ODI cricket. (icc)
Is Rohit Sharma India’s ODI captain?
No. In India’s September 2026 ODI squad announcement, Shubman Gill was named captain, while Rohit Sharma was included as a player. (BCCI)
FAQs
What is Rohit Sharma famous for?
He is best known for his ODI batting, three double centuries, the 264 against Sri Lanka, his leadership of India, and his long IPL career.
What is Rohit Sharma’s full name?
His full name is Rohit Gurunath Sharma.
When did Rohit Sharma make his international debut?
He made his ODI debut for India against Ireland on June 23, 2007. (The Times of India)
When did Rohit Sharma retire from Test cricket?
He announced his Test retirement in May 2025. BCCI confirmed that his Test career ended after 67 matches and 4,301 runs. (BCCI)
When did Rohit Sharma retire from T20I cricket?
He retired from T20I cricket in 2024 after India’s T20 World Cup campaign. (The Indian Express)
What is Rohit Sharma’s highest score in all international cricket?
His highest international score is 264 in an ODI against Sri Lanka in 2014. (icc)
How many international centuries does Rohit Sharma have?
His career totals include 35 ODI centuries, 12 Test centuries, and 5 T20I centuries, giving him 52 international centuries across the three formats. The ODI figure is current through September 30, 2026. (The Times of India)
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Conclusion
Rohit Sharma’s career combines outstanding ODI batting, major international milestones, leadership, and a long association with Indian cricket. His 264 remains the highest individual ODI score, while his three double centuries make his record especially unusual. (icc)
By September 2026, he had also passed 12,000 ODI runs and reached 35 ODI centuries. After retiring from Tests and T20Is, his focus has shifted to ODI cricket, where he remains part of India’s plans. (The Times of India)
For readers looking at his career as a whole, the numbers tell only part of the story. His move to opening, evolution as a batter, captaincy period, IPL career, and ability to produce exceptionally large ODI innings are all central to understanding his place in modern cricket.
