June 23, 2007๐ Background
ODI debut
Rohit Sharma makes his ODI debut for India against Ireland, showing early promise but not yet a leadership candidate.
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Rohit Sharma: The late bloomer who rewrote India's captaincy script
From being dropped in 2009 to lifting the World Cup in 2023 โ Rohit Sharma's captaincy journey was anything but early.
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A 16-year wait for the captain's armband
In December 2021, Rohit Sharma, a true late bloomer in leadership, was finally named full-time white-ball captain of India โ 14 years after his ODI debut in 2007. Unlike many predecessors, his path to leadership was slow and winding. He was dropped from the team in 2009 due to poor form. He returned in 2013 and scored 177 against Australia. But captaincy remained distant. He served as vice-captain under Virat Kohli from 2017. Only after Kohli stepped down did Rohit get the top job. His late start makes his success even more remarkable.
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From debut to dropped: Rohit's early struggles
Rohit Sharma made his ODI debut against Ireland on June 23, 2007. He showed flashes of talent but lacked consistency. By 2009, he was dropped from the Indian team. The setback forced him to rethink his game. He worked on his fitness and technique. His comeback in 2013 was spectacular. He scored 177 against Australia in November 2013, then the highest individual score by an Indian. That innings marked his arrival as a world-class batsman. But captaincy still seemed far away.
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Kohli's shadow and Dhoni's legacy
Rohit's captaincy path was shaped by two giants: MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. Dhoni led India from 2007 to 2017, winning the 2011 World Cup. When Dhoni stepped down, Kohli took over across formats. Rohit was named vice-captain in October 2017. He led Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles between 2013 and 2023, proving his tactical acumen. Yet, for years, he remained Kohli's deputy. Only when Kohli resigned from white-ball captaincy in 2021 did Rohit get his chance.
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