A champion of white-ball cricket, one of the best exponents of the pull shot and India's team captain--Rohit Gurunath Sharma, turns 37 today. Since his debut in 2007, Rohit has gradually worked his way to the top of the mountain and today, he finds himself among the pantheon of cricketing greats that the nation of India has produced. With a host of records to his name and a legion of fans rooting for him at every venue he plays in, Rohit can look back and say that he has had a career to cherish and remember. And he will go down as one of the greatest to have ever done it. Yet winning a World Cup is what will complete Hitman's legacy. Happy Birthday Rohit Sharma! Fans Wish Team India Captain As He Turns 37.

The ICC World Cup 2023 Heartbreak

Rohit Sharma celebrates a wicket (Photo credit: Instagram @rohitsharma45)

It was a 'so-close-yet-so-far' moment for Rohit and his Indian team in 2023. Having gone through the whole tournament unscathed, India were an unstoppable force in ICC World Cup 2023 only before they met an immovable object in Australia. With explosive starts on most occasions throughout the competition, Rohit laid the foundation for the Indian batting, which led to the side winning all their matches up until the final. It was on that fateful day (November 19) that he miscued one and Travis Head pulled off a blinder to dismiss him. India's batting did not gain any major impetus since then, and eventually, Pat Cummins and his team broke the hearts of a billion Indians across the globe. Rohit's dream of winning a World Cup after 12 long years remained unfulfilled. He unfortunately did not feature in the 2011 World Cup but more than made up for it with supreme performances in the next two editions, only for India to stumble in the semi-final hurdles on both occasions. In between, Rohit also featured in three T20 World Cups, scoring 82 (2012), 200 (2014) and 88 (2016) runs respectively. 'Hitman’ Rohit Sharma Turns 37: A Look at India Skipper’s Records on His Birthday.

Why a World Cup Will Complete Rohit Sharma's Legacy?

Rohit Sharma reacts after scoring a century (Photo credit: Instagram @rohitsharma45)

One of the most prolific run-scorers across formats, Rohit's batting is a joy to watch because of the sheer ease with which he plays his shots. From his easy-looking flick shots to the most effortless pull for a six, Rohit perfectly symbolizes the term 'lazy elegance'. As a captain, he is a brilliant reader of the game and he comes across as a very relaxed personality, which makes it easier for newcomers and youngsters to make themselves feel comfortable in the team setup. As many runs and records that Rohit is the proud holder of, he needs to win a World Cup to fulfil his legacy. Not that he has not won one. Rohit was part of the Indian squad, which won the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup back in 2007. But back then, he was just a 20-year-old trying to find his feet in international cricket. And that T20 World Cup win was more about MS Dhoni's India doing it without its big names, which include the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid, than anything else. Happy Birthday Rohit Sharma! BCCI Extends Heartfelt Wishes to Team India Captain As He Turns 37.

Rohit Sharma after a match at ICC World Cup 2023 (Photo credit: Instagram @rohitsharma45)

Take Sachin. The man conquered cricket in his illustrious career and set many records, some of which are yet to be scaled down. And yet, the best part came when he lifted the World Cup in front of his home crowd in 2011. In football, it was Lionel Messi who experienced a similar moment in his career by winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which was arguably the crowning achievement of his storied career. On similar lines, a World Cup would complete Rohit's legacy and complete what has been a magnificent career. Not that Rohit has not achieved enough success yet, but a World Cup title win, with him as one of the central figures, is what would go on to define his legacy.  Star Sports Shares Promo of Indian Cricket Team for ICC T20 World Cup 2024 Featuring Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (Watch Video).

ICC World Cup T20 World Cup 2024-His Last Chance?

Rohit Sharma celebrates a T20I hundred (Photo credit: Twitter @BCCI)

The T20 World Cup in June is arguably the best opportunity for Rohit to achieve that dream. With the next 50-over World Cup being in 2027, Rohit would be in his 40s and there's no absolute certainty that he will be competing in the tournament. Fans would obviously want him to be part of that World Cup, but that's for time to see.

On that note, the upcoming T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies could be Rohit's last chance at cementing his legacy as one of the greatest of all time. His captaincy, as well as explosiveness at the top of the order, would be something to watch out for and there's no doubt he would give it his all for the Men in Blue as they bid to end their ICC trophy drought. 18,820 international runs so far, three double centuries, five IPL titles and countless memories to cherish, both on and off the field--the Rohit Sharma story has been a glorious chapter in Indian cricket and the game is blessed to have had him as one of its biggest-ever ambassadors. And a World Cup win where he leads the charge would be just the defining point of his life between the 22 yards.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 30, 2024 07:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).