Why is Rohit Sharma called ‘Hitman’: Watch Indian white-ball vice-captain unveils story behind nickname

Why is Rohit Sharma called ‘Hitman’: The Indian limited-overs vice-captain opened up on why he is nicknamed ‘Hitman’.

During the seventh ODI of Australia’s tour of India in 2013 in Bengaluru, India opening batsman Rohit Sharma had scored his fifth ODI century and the then career-best score. In what was his maiden ODI double century, it was his second ODI century of the series.

Sharma, who had started opening the batting in ODIs less than a year before, earned the name of “Hitman” on the back of consistently scoring ODI centuries as an ODI opener.

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Having scored 7,119 runs in 137 ODIs at an average of 59.32 and a strike rate of 92.59 including 27 centuries and 31 half-centuries, Sharma has been the highest run-scorer among opening batsmen since the start of 2013.

Why is Rohit Sharma called ‘Hitman’?

Sharma, who turned 33 last month, revealed in an Instagram live session with India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin how he was nicknamed ‘Hitman’ and made it clear that the name doesn’t have anything to do with wrestler Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart.

“It came in that game [209 vs Australia in Bengaluru]. When I scored those runs, I was walking back to the pavilion and they called me for the flash interview after the innings got over. I was really very tired yaar. I told him [media manager], ‘I can’t go now. Please take someone else’.

“He said that this is a record and you have to come. You know who PD is? He was there. He told me, ‘Man, you played like a hitman. You are a hitman,'” Sharma was quoted as saying.

Considering Sharma’s record after transforming into an opening batsman, the name was bound to be popular among his plentiful fans. Had it not been for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Sharma would have been leading Mumbai Indians in the 13th season of the Indian Premier League.