Happy Birthday, Rohit Sharma: Why Rohit Sharma is one of cricket's most likable superstars

Rohit Sharma has the look and demeanor of the friendly guy next door, but his batting has a touch of the vintage Virender Sehwag. On his day, Sharma's languid flicks and effortless pulls rain boundaries and his sheer timing makes power seem almost obscene. (Illustration by Suneesh K.)

Fresh from leading the Indian test team to a 4-1 win against a strong English side, Rohit Sharma, now 37, found himself replaced as captain by his Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, Mumbai Indians, a team he’s led to five titles. But watching him fielding in the deep, or sitting in the players’ arena during the first few games of the ongoing IPL, there’s nothing to suggest any rancor. There’s no exaggerated bonhomie on the field, no disapproving gestures to show he disagrees with the new captain Hardik Pandya who’s being booed by fans.

Some say he’s too laid back. Others that he’s been hard done to. As for Rohit, he doesn’t give a damn. That’s because he doesn’t really give a damn what people think about him, though most people think rather well of him. The "Hitman" of Indian cricket, is not just a master of monstrous sixes and record-breaking scores. He's also a surprisingly likable superstar who exudes an endearing, down-to-earth charm that resonates with fans all over the world.

For one, there’s the everyman aura, which makes him inherently relatable. He's no chiseled fitness freak nor a sharply styled fashion icon. With his slightly chubby cheeks, the hint of a midriff and a casual demeanor, he looks a bit more like the friendly guy next door than an intimidating cricketing legend.

His batting has a touch of the vintage Virender Sehwag, without quite the latter’s awe-inspiring record especially in overseas conditions. Still, on his day, those languid flicks and effortless pulls rain boundaries and his sheer timing makes power seem almost obscene. It's like watching a gifted artist at work, not a brawny athlete. It is almost a surprise to note that he is the all-time leading six-hitter in international cricket across all formats, having surpassed Chris Gayle's record of 553 sixes. Rohit’s sixes are like him, seemingly effortless and bearing all the joy that he finds in the game. For beneath the fame and fortune, there's a little kid in him who clearly just loves playing cricket. That infectious enthusiasm, whether he's celebrating a wicket by a teammate or a personal milestone, is impossible not to like.

His cricket journey has not been all smooth sailing. His career, with early inconsistency and the 'talented but lazy' tag, mirrors the struggles of many of us. Equally, his rise to the top inspires a familiar 'If he can do it, so can I' feeling though the best players swear that he was always ferociously talented. But Rohit wears his ability like an invisible cloak rather than a medallion on his shoulder.

But Rohit's appeal extends beyond his on-field actions. On social media his deadpan humour is gold. From his sleepy-eyed selfies to his hilarious quips during interviews, there's always a touch of goofy, self-deprecating charm that makes him even more endearing. In press conferences he shows up the pretentiousness and vacuity of many journalists. When one of them asked him what he would say to Mahendra Singh Dhoni on his birthday, the hitman’s response was to crinkle his face into that bored expression which defines him at such moments. In the event his answer was what any sane person, not determined to send out a message to his million of fans, would have come up with: “Abhi kya bolega” (What can I say) and then as an afterthought “Happy budday”!

Rohit Sharma proves that you don't need to fit any superstar mold to be adored. He's talented, successful, yet eminently approachable. That mix of 'Hitman' on the field and chilled-out regular guy off it is what makes him such a consistently well-loved figure in the volatile, often intimidating world of sports.

He’s in many ways the last of the amateurs who plays the game without one eye constantly on its rewards. Sure those come too, and in fistfuls. In the last five years, Mumbai Indians has been paying Rs 15-16 crore each year to retain his services in the IPL. But Rohit hasn’t allowed that to change his personality which remains that of the quintessential Mumbai tapori. Like Munna in 'Rangeela', you can easily see him walking into a fancy SoBo restaurant and telling the maître d'hôtel to switch on the fan.