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We remember the year 2007 for primarily two reasons. First, that it would mark the Men's ODI World Cup in the Caribbean where despite the West Indies hosting it, it would be the Aussies with their incredible surge in the game who'd conquer it. The tournament saw the last of legends like Glenn McGrath, Inzamam-ul-Haq and even Brian Lara. And second, we remember 2007 for being the first-ever year where Team India lifted the inaugural T20 World Cup under MS Dhoni's leadership, in which they beat arch-rivals Pakistan to come up trumps.
But truth be told, there was a third big reason about 2007 as well for which to remember one of cricket's grand year.
And that reason is Rohit Gurunath Sharma, who made on June 23, 2007 his maiden international game and hence, his debut for Team India. In a standalone one-day contest that took place in Ireland against the hosts, Rohit Sharma arrived for Team India. And though, the only contribution, to speak of some, that he was able to lend his team was the important catch of Niall O'Brien, clearly Ireland's best batter back then (as also that game's highest scorer for IRE), there wasn't much left for the Mumbai-born lad to do. Gambhir and Ganguly did the rest.
But a little over half a decade since that pleasant Belfast day, Rohit Sharma, once a young kid who debut for India, has today become a cricketing revolution; the only man, thus far, in international cricket with three double hundreds to his name.
He has not only helped India lift the Champion's Trophy as seen in 2025 but also the cup it so cherished having once won it in the very year he made his T20I debut, circa 2007: the T20 World Cup.
But rather emphatically, in achieving all of this, Rohit Sharma has himself lent useful contributions to his team that can't and mustn't be undermined. In the latest edition of the Champion's Trophy, Rohit Sharma carved 180 runs from 5 innings, which included a decisive innings of 76 against the BlackCaps in the final.
In the T20 World Cup of 2024, which took place in the West Indies, Rohit once again led from the front and blasted away 257 runs for his India. That included two great half-centuries that could be considered as one of the best knocks ever in the edition's history: the 92 off just 41 deliveries that came against the mighty Aussies and then, the 39-ball-57 versus England.
In each of the contests, India was able to roar supreme for it had the Hitman in its ranks.
Most importantly, in playing eighteen full years of International cricket, which Rohit Sharma just completed a few hours ago as of June 23, 2025, he has entertained, enthralled, thrilled and even inspired.
Not been someone who would offer lip-service or wax lyrical all day on the criticisms of other players around him, but Rohit Sharma has led from the front and inspired India by showing them the way to some mega ICC trophies.
And in doing all of that, he has tirelessly and always for the thrill and cause of the country, struck no fewer than 19,700 runs in an India shirt. That's besides thudding and smashing 49 international centuries, on the whole.
Even as the great batter is no longer available for T20 and Test duties for India, the Hitman show, the fans would agree, should continue! What do you reckon?
