Rohit Sharma once hit 264 in a single one-day international. Twelve years later, nobody has beaten it. That innings sits at the center of any Rohit Sharma biography, but it isn’t the whole story. Today, the 39-year-old is back in India colors for the opening ODI against New Zealand in Auckland.
Still, the road to that moment started far from Eden Park. A boy raised by relatives in Mumbai’s northern suburbs became one of cricket’s biggest hitters. Because of that, this Rohit Sharma biography follows him from Borivali to two World Cup wins. Along the way, you’ll also find his current form and the matches still ahead.
Early Life: Born in Nagpur, Raised in Mumbai
Rohit Gurunath Sharma was born on April 30, 1987, in Nagpur, Maharashtra. His father, Gurunath, worked as a caretaker at a transport firm’s storehouse. Because the family had little money, Rohit grew up with his grandparents and uncles in Borivali. That childhood shapes every Rohit Sharma biography written about him.
The Cricket Camp That Changed Things
In 1999, Rohit joined a cricket camp, paid for with his uncle’s money. Later, a scholarship helped him stay in coaching. He began playing for Mumbai in 2006-07, and the national selectors soon noticed him.
Meanwhile, his younger brother Vishal stayed close to the family. Even so, money stayed tight for years. That struggle explains why this Rohit Sharma biography begins in Borivali, not at a stadium.
Debut Years With India
Rohit made his ODI debut against Ireland in Belfast on June 23, 2007. Soon after, he played his first T20 International in Durban that September. He then joined India’s squad that won the first T20 World Cup.
His Test debut came much later, at Eden Gardens in November 2013. Because of that gap, many fans saw him as a talent still waiting for a role. Every Rohit Sharma biography points to that long wait as the key to what followed.
The Opener Who Rewrote Records: The Heart of Any Rohit Sharma Biography
For years, Rohit’s talent looked bigger than his results. Then India moved him to open the batting in ODIs. As a result, his game changed almost overnight.
Suddenly, he had the whole innings to build a score, and he used it. As a result, bowlers had no easy overs against him. This part of the Rohit Sharma biography is where the Hitman nickname took hold.
His first double century came against Australia in 2013. A year later, he smashed 264 against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens. That knock took 173 balls and included 33 fours and nine sixes. It remains the highest individual score in ODI history.
Three Double Hundreds
- 209 against Australia in 2013
- 264 against Sri Lanka in 2014
- 208 not out against Sri Lanka in 2017
No other batter has scored more than one ODI double century. Even so, Rohit’s calm timing made the feat look easy. Few players have stretched a big score so well. Still, the 264 stands apart. Of course, that innings needs its own place in this Rohit Sharma biography.
The 2019 World Cup and the Test Opener Years
Fast forward to the 2019 World Cup in England. Rohit scored five centuries in a single tournament, a world record. He finished with 648 runs in nine matches. After all, nobody else had come close.
Still, India lost the semifinal, and the run ended in heartbreak. That year, the ICC named him ODI Cricketer of the Year. Overall, he has seven World Cup centuries, the most by any player.
Because of that record, he’s often called the best ODI opener of his era. That’s why the 2019 tournament gets its own chapter in this Rohit Sharma biography. Even in defeat, it showed his peak.
Meanwhile, Test cricket finally opened up for him too. India used him as a Test opener from 2019. He hit 19 sixes in a home series against South Africa that year.
Altogether, he played 67 Tests and scored 4,301 runs. Even so, his Test story started late. Once he opened, though, the runs came quickly.
Captain Rohit: Mumbai Indians and India
Rohit took over Mumbai Indians in 2013. Under him, the club won five IPL titles in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020. That matched MS Dhoni’s mark as the most successful captain in the league. Before the 2024 season, though, Mumbai replaced him with Hardik Pandya.
For India, he became T20I captain in November 2021. He then took charge of the Test side in 2022. In 18 Tests as captain, India won 12.
Even so, white-ball trophies defined his time in charge. That leadership record is a major part of any Rohit Sharma biography. After all, few captains have lifted two ICC trophies in under a year.
Two Big Wins
India went unbeaten at the 2024 T20 World Cup under his leadership. Then, in March 2025, India won the Champions Trophy in Dubai. Rohit scored 76 in the final against New Zealand. Together, those wins made him a World Cup-winning captain in the eyes of many fans.
Awards, Honours and the IPL Story
Rohit received the Arjuna Award in 2015. Five years later, he won the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India’s top sporting honor. Meanwhile, his IPL trophy count reached six, counting the 2009 title with Deccan Chargers. Beyond that, he also led Mumbai to the 2013 Champions League T20 crown.
Still, the awards only tell part of the tale. In IPL circles, fans still debate his removal as Mumbai captain ahead of 2024. Even so, he stayed with the franchise as a player. As a result, his 2026 season marked his 19th straight year with Mumbai Indians.
That loyalty adds color to this Rohit Sharma biography. Few modern stars stay so long with one franchise.
Retirements and the Changing of the Guard
After the 2024 T20 World Cup final, Rohit retired from T20 Internationals. His last match in that format came against South Africa in Bridgetown on June 29, 2024. In May 2025, he also ended his Test career. Now, ODIs are the only format where he wears India colors.
Meanwhile, Shubman Gill has taken over as India’s ODI captain. That means Rohit now plays under a much younger leader. Still, the veteran remains in the side as India build toward the 2027 World Cup.
For a player his age, that’s a rare second act. Because of that, the retirement chapter of this Rohit Sharma biography feels more like a pause than a goodbye. Still, the 2027 World Cup is the next big target.
Rohit Sharma in 2026: Still Hitting Big
The numbers still look strong this year. In the three-match series against West Indies at home, Rohit scored 225 runs. That included a century in the second game. Before that, he made 138 in the third ODI at Lord’s, though India lost the series 2-1 to England.
Altogether, he has played 291 ODIs and scored 12,120 runs. In November 2025, he passed Shahid Afridi for the most ODI sixes. He also reached the top of the ICC ODI batting rankings for the first time that year. Any current Rohit Sharma biography has to include those milestones.
Meanwhile, he is set to become the eighth Indian with 300 ODI appearances. At 39, he keeps adding to the list. Of course, age brings questions about fitness and form. Still, the West Indies series suggested he has plenty left, and the selectors seem to agree. That’s the story the next pages of the Rohit Sharma biography will tell.
Upcoming Matches: What’s Next for Rohit
India’s five-match ODI series in New Zealand started on November 4 at Eden Park. Gill won the toss and chose to field, with Rohit in the XI. These dates stand as of November 4, 2026. However, squads and venues can change, so check the official schedule.
- November 4: First ODI, Auckland
- Nov 7: Second ODI, Wellington
- Nov 10: Third ODI, Hamilton
- Nov 13 and 15: Fourth and fifth ODIs, Mount Maunganui
- December 13 to 19: Three ODIs against Sri Lanka at home, in Delhi, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad
- Late December: Vijay Hazare Trophy games for Mumbai, after the Sri Lanka series
- January 3, 2027: First of three home ODIs against Zimbabwe
His Vijay Hazare availability depends on the number of matches he chooses. Still, reports say he’s likely to play up to four games, with the last possibly on December 29. Because of this, check Mumbai’s squad news before each match. Once the New Zealand series ends, the next chapter of the Rohit Sharma biography will turn to Sri Lanka.
Key Takeaways
- Origins: Born April 30, 1987, in Nagpur, he grew up in Borivali, Mumbai.
- Records: His 264 against Sri Lanka in 2014 is still the highest ODI score.
- World Cup: He scored five centuries at the 2019 World Cup, a tournament record.
- Captaincy: He led India to the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy.
- IPL: He captained Mumbai Indians to five titles.
- Now: He plays ODIs only, with the 2027 World Cup as the big goal.
FAQs
When and where was Rohit Sharma born?
He was born on April 30, 1987, in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
What is Rohit Sharma’s highest ODI score?
His highest ODI score is 264, made against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens in 2014.
How many IPL titles did Rohit Sharma win as captain?
He led Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles, in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020.
Has Rohit Sharma retired from international cricket?
He has retired from Tests and T20 Internationals but still plays ODIs for India.
When is Rohit Sharma’s next match?
His next match is the second ODI against New Zealand in Wellington on November 7, 2026.
Conclusion
This Rohit Sharma biography covers a career built on timing, patience and a few unbreakable records. From a borrowed cricket camp in Mumbai to two World Cup wins, the arc is clear. Meanwhile, the New Zealand series is still adding pages.
That’s why any Rohit Sharma biography stays unfinished while he keeps batting. For now, the best summary is simple. A boy raised by relatives became the batter who owns the highest score in ODI history.