18 Years of Rohit Sharma: India legend reflects on debut with emotional post

Rohit Sharma made his India debut on 23/06/2007. (Photo: Instagram)

Over a month after announcing his retirement from Test cricket, Rohit Sharma took to Instagram once again to share a heartfelt story — this time to show appreciation. He posted an image of his helmet adorned with the Indian tricolour and BCCI insignia, with the caption "Forever grateful" and the date "23/06/07." That date signifies a special milestone — it marks Rohit’s debut in international cricket back in 2007. Today, as of June 23, 2025, Rohit completes 18 years representing India at the highest level.

At just 19, Rohit made his debut in an ODI against Ireland. His first outing didn’t offer him a chance to bat, and when he finally did — a few days later against South Africa — he managed only 8 runs. But his breakthrough came in September that same year. In the iconic match where Yuvraj Singh struck six sixes off Stuart Broad, Rohit didn't get to bat. However, in the very next game against South Africa, he announced himself with a composed unbeaten half-century, signaling the beginning of what would be a legendary career.

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Now retired from both Test and T20 internationals, Rohit seems to be shifting focus toward the 2027 ODI World Cup, which is still over two years away. His cricketing journey can be broadly split into two distinct phases: the early years from 2007 to 2012, where despite immense talent, he struggled to find consistency; and the period from 2013 onwards, when his career skyrocketed.

The turning point came during the 2013 Champions Trophy when MS Dhoni promoted Rohit to open the innings. From then on, his form flourished, and he forged a formidable opening partnership with Shikhar Dhawan. The duo scored over 5000 ODI runs together and notched up 18 century stands, making them the second most successful opening pair in Indian ODI history after Tendulkar and Ganguly.

Rohit's ODI prowess peaked in the 2019 World Cup when he set a record by smashing five centuries in a single edition — a feat unmatched in tournament history. His achievements were soon recognised with India’s highest sporting honour, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna.

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Leadership responsibilities came calling in late 2021 when Rohit was named India’s white-ball captain, coinciding with Rahul Dravid’s appointment as head coach. Though his initial phase was challenging — with India exiting early from both the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup — Rohit responded by reshaping not just his own game but also the team's approach. Under his captaincy, India adopted a more aggressive mindset and attacking style of play.

During the 2023 ODI World Cup hosted in India, Rohit led from the front, delivering explosive starts and guiding the team to 10 consecutive wins. Unfortunately, the dream run ended in heartbreak with a loss to Australia in the final. Still, redemption came swiftly. Seven months later, Rohit led India to a triumphant T20 World Cup win against South Africa, finishing the campaign undefeated.

Although his Test performance had declined after his move to the opening slot in 2019 initially brought a resurgence, his white-ball form remained top-class. In March, India clinched the ICC Champions Trophy under his captaincy.

Now, 18 years since a quiet debut, Rohit Sharma stands tall — not just as one of India’s most prolific batters, but also as a transformational leader who helped script one of the most successful chapters in Indian cricket history.