IPL: Starting with Sachin Tendulkar's decision, Rohit Sharma completes 15 years at MI
Rohit Sharma completed 15 years with Mumbai Indians, a journey that began with Sachin Tendulkar’s backing in 2011. He went on to lead MI to five IPL titles, becoming their most successful captain. With nearly 6,000 runs and multiple records, Rohit remains central to MI’s legacy and one of IPL’s most iconic player-franchise stories.
MUMBAI: A remarkable journey in the IPL reached a major milestone on Thursday as Rohit Sharma completed 15 years with the Mumbai Indians (MI), a franchise he has led to five IPL titles, building a legacy that will be hard to match and will inspire future generations. Rohit began his IPL career with Deccan Chargers (2008-10) before joining MI in 2011, a move strongly backed by Sachin Tendulkar, who captained the side then. “It was Tendulkar's decision that MI must buy Rohit, back in 2011.
It happened right in front of me,” Tendulkar’s close friend and former Mumbai seamer Atul Ranade told TOI. It was on April 10, 2011, that Rohit made his MI debut against Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) at the Feroz Shah Kotla. He scored an unbeaten 27 in a comfortable eight-wicket win, sharing a match-winning stand with Tendulkar.
Reflecting on that phase, Rohit had said, “It was an emotional moment for me to join MI. It was like coming back to my home. ” Rohit’s career with MI took a defining turn in 2013 when he was handed the captaincy mid-season after Ricky Ponting stepped down.
The ‘Hitman’ immediately delivered, guiding MI to their maiden IPL title that year and later the Champions League T20 crown. Between 2013 and 2020, Rohit led MI to five IPL titles, establishing himself as the franchise’s most successful captain. He has 87 wins as captain for MI, the most by any skipper for the franchise, and boasts a perfect 5-0 record in IPL finals.