Indian skipper Rohit Sharma took to social media on Tuesday to reflect on the year gone by, expressing gratitude for “all the ups and downs and everything in between.” The year 2024 was a mix of highs and lows for the ‘Hitman,’ marked by career-defining moments, personal milestones, and challenges on the cricket field.
Rohit’s Instagram post captured his journey through a heartfelt video featuring snapshots of his T20 World Cup triumph, standout performances, and moments with family. “For all the ups & downs, and everything in between, Thank you 2024,” wrote the skipper.
A year of highs
The highlight of Rohit’s year was undoubtedly leading India to the ICC T20 World Cup title, ending an 11-year-long drought for an ICC trophy. His stellar performances included a record-breaking fifth T20I ton against Afghanistan and a swashbuckling 92 off 41 balls against Australia. With 257 runs in the T20 World Cup, including three fifties, Rohit emerged as India’s top scorer in the tournament, showcasing a strike rate of over 156.
His remarkable run extended to the IPL 2024 season, where he scored 417 runs for the Mumbai Indians, including a century. Though the team finished at the bottom of the table, Rohit’s individual form remained a bright spot.
Struggles in the longest format
However, 2024 wasn’t all smooth sailing. Rohit’s Test form took a significant dip, with the latter half of the year proving particularly challenging. India suffered a historic whitewash at home in a Test series and are now struggling in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
As a Test batter, Rohit managed just 619 runs in 14 matches at an average of 24.76 this year. His struggles were glaring in the 2024/25 season, where he averaged a dismal 10.93 across eight matches. Despite leading India to a series win against Bangladesh, losses piled up, including six defeats as Test captain, four of which came on home soil.
Balancing cricket and personal life
Off the field, Rohit balanced the pressures of leadership with personal milestones. He welcomed his second child, son Ahaan, and shared heartwarming moments of bonding with his young teammates, whom he fondly referred to as “garden mein ghoomne waale ladke” (boys who roam in gardens).
Looking ahead
As the year ends, Rohit’s reflective post serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of sports and life. While his Test form remains a concern, the skipper’s dominance in white-ball cricket and his leadership during the T20 World Cup underline his resilience.
With 2025 on the horizon, Rohit Sharma will look to build on his white-ball successes and script a turnaround in red-ball cricket, all while embracing the highs and lows that come with being a modern cricketing icon.