Indian cricket sensation Rohit Sharma, affectionately known as ‘Hitman,’ received a truly heartwarming welcome as he arrived in Mumbai on Monday evening. Fresh off a memorable three-match One Day International (ODI) series against Australia, the veteran opener was swarmed by a throng of enthusiastic fans at the airport, all eager for selfies and autographs.
Dressed in a casual white cap, dark sunglasses, a black T-shirt, and blue trousers, Rohit paused amidst the excitement to acknowledge his supporters. In a particularly touching moment, he spotted a fan wearing a T-shirt adorned with his picture. Rohit graciously signed the shirt and posed for a quick selfie, a gesture that clearly delighted the crowd, before making his way to his awaiting car.
The Australian series proved to be a powerful statement from the 38-year-old batsman. After an initial low score on the challenging Perth pitch, Rohit roared back into form, first with a gritty 73 runs off 97 balls in Adelaide. He then followed that up with a magnificent unbeaten 121 runs from just 125 deliveries in Sydney. Across all three games, he accumulated an impressive 202 runs, firmly re-establishing his elite class and signaling his strong contention for a spot in the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup squad in South Africa.
Following India’s emphatic nine-wicket victory in the final ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Head coach Gautam Gambhir lauded Rohit’s significant contribution. “The partnerships were absolutely crucial – Shubman and Rohit set a brilliant tone, and then Rohit and Virat were simply outstanding and clinical,” Gambhir remarked to the team in the dressing room. He added a special mention, stating, “A special mention to Rohit, another hundred, and most importantly, finishing it off.”
Rohit was later presented with the ‘Impact Player of the Series’ medal by strength and conditioning coach Adrian Le Roux, a moment met with thunderous applause from his teammates. Reflecting on his match-winning century, Rohit offered insights into his batting strategy, particularly when playing alongside his long-time partner, Virat Kohli.
“I love batting in Australia. It was genuinely one of those perfect days to play a big innings and guide the team home,” Rohit shared in a video. “My intention was to bat deep and stick rigidly to our plan. Sometimes things don’t go as expected, but today, everything aligned perfectly. You really need to plan meticulously when playing here, and I made sure to leverage all the experience I’ve gathered from my previous tours.”