"The journey of becoming the GOAT"- Fans react as Team India captain Rohit Sharma finishes 16 years in International cricket
Team India captain Rohit Sharma finished 16 years in International cricket on Friday, June 23. The stalwart made his debut back in 2007 on the same day in an ODI against Ireland at Belfast, under current head coach Rahul Dravid's captaincy.
He did not get a chance to either bat or bowl in the contest. Team India chased down the target of 171 easily, courtesy of match-winning knocks from Gautam Gambhir (80*) and Sourav Ganguly (73*).
Rohit went on to make his T20 debut later in September of the same year at the 2007 T20 World Cup in South Africa. He played a couple of useful knocks, including a pivotal 30* (16) in the final against Pakistan, to announce himself on the big stage.
He continued to display glimpses of his massive potential in the upcoming years, but consistency eluded him. Rohit failed to cement his place in the Indian playing XI and was also ignored for the 2011 World Cup.
Team management promoted him to the opening slot late in 2012, after which his international career started blossoming. Since then, Rohit Sharma has become one of the all-time great openers in white ball cricket by smashing runs across the globe and against stern opponents. He also reinvented himself as a Test opener in 2019 and has been a consistent performer ever since in the format.
As the Indian captain completed 16 years in international cricket on Friday, fans took to Twitter to reminisce about his journey. Here are some of the reactions:
16 Years of Rohit Sharma in International cricket🏏.
Use this tag - #16YearsOfRohitSharma
@ImRo45 | #RohitSharma | https://t.co/ToEYHrhTus
A batsman who was written off in 2011, went on to become the GREATEST OPENER of all time.
16 years of Rohit Sharma representing the country, India. May you always raise that bat @ImRo45 ❤️ https://t.co/GFx1ZWnsjU
16 Years @ImRo45 ❤️ https://t.co/nEBIw2pa79
🛐On this day 23th June in 2007,Rohit Sharma made his International debut!
Goat Of ICT🐐🛐
#RohitSharma @ImRo45 https://t.co/AJXXyBoH4I
🫶🫡16 years of Rohitism in Int'l Cricket 🥺
Now We are living in Rohit Sharma Era🏏❤️🔥
Tell me Which is your favourite Hitman moment. 👇👇
#RohitSharmarules16
@ImRo45 🛐🇮🇳🫶🫡
https://t.co/QGQkWmLSiD
16 years of Rohitism in international cricket.
The journey of becoming the GOAT.
#RohitSharmarules16
https://t.co/CEmWC6A1fG
16 years of HITMAN Rohit Sharma in International Cricket https://t.co/UDY2hcEhzf
On this day in 2007 Rohit Sharma made his international debut.
16 yrs
441 match
60 Notouts
17115 runs
264 HS
4 200s
12 150s
43 100s
91 50s
1618 4s
527 6s
11 Wckts
195 catches
37 M.O.M
9 M.O.S
86 100+
234 50+
62 Wins as Cap
THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME 🐐
https://t.co/3ee2bt0jqQ
16 Years for Hitman 🥹🐐🙏
Sun will rise again @ImRo45 🦁❤️
#RohitSharma
https://t.co/NEUQvmlt6F
16 years of Rohit Sharma in international cricket ❤️
Greatest cricketer 🐐
Greatest person 🫶
twitter.com/Exhausted_45/s…
I watched this man hitting sixes easily when i was a kid
And slowly slowly i became an addict of his batting
Today rohit sharma completed 16 years of career
I supported him in his best and i will support him in the worst also
#16YearsOfRohitSharma
#RohitSharmaRules16 https://t.co/YukrcslIiE
16 Years of Hitman
16 Years of Greatness
16 Years of One of the Greatest Opener In Intl. Cricket
#RohitSharma #RohitSharmarules16 https://t.co/7UZCrbBtaG
16 Years of Rohit Sharma but more than 16 years of Hardwork, Commitment, Struggle, Injuries, Fightback, Comeback & many achievements. Hope to achieve more from what's left & keep on entertaining us.❤️ #RohitSharma https://t.co/YO3pffpgsl
On this day 16 years ago idolo Rohit Sharma made his international debut!!
- 9825 runs in ODI.
- 3853 runs in T20I.
- 3437 runs in Test.
He has ruled as an opener in World cricket - Hitman.
G.O.A.T @ImRo45 💙🙏
#16YearsOfRohitSharma #RohitSharma #Hitman https://t.co/QHrmcKCJAV
#OnThisDay in 2007, Rohit Sharma made his International debut, turned out to be one of the greatest ever from India in the 16 year period.
- 9825 runs in ODI.
- 3853 runs in T20I.
- 3437 runs in Test.
- 5 Centuries in World Cup 2019.
- Three Double Century
- Four T20I Century https://t.co/J05G3bUJsg
The arrival of Hitman 🔥
#OTD in 2007, Rohit Sharma made his International debut, 16 years later, he is one of the greats of Indian and world cricket!
#Cricket #RohitSharma #India https://t.co/6Wbnnvtv0u
Rohit Sharma's ODI average each year (innings):
20.33 (3)
25.33 (28)
25.50 (7)
38.77 (14)
55.55 (16)
12.92 (13)
52 (27)
52.55 (12)
50.94 (17)
62.67 (10)
71.83 (21)
73.57 (21)
57.31 (27)
57 (3)
30 (3)
41.50 (8)
46.38 (8)*.
- Rohit made his ODI debut on this day 16 years ago! https://t.co/H6F7NHZ5bZ
Rohit Sharma will return to action in July to lead Team India on West Indies tour
Team India lost in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 final against Australia earlier this month under Rohit's leadership. With no cricketing action for the rest of June, all the players have been rejuvenating themselves away from the field by spending time with their families.
The action will resume in July when Team India will tour West Indies for Test, ODI, and T20I series. It will commence on July 12 when the two sides square off in the first Test.
Test squad: Rohit Sharma (Capt), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (VC), KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini.
ODI squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar