Rohit Sharma's Journey with Mumbai Indians: From Debut to Captaincy

Rohit Sharma's IPL Debut

Fifteen years ago, on this day in 2011, Rohit Sharma made his inaugural appearance in the IPL for the Mumbai Indians (MI). His debut match was against the Delhi Capitals, previously known as the Delhi Daredevils, where he showcased his talent. Lasith Malinga was instrumental in that game, taking five wickets and helping to bowl out the opposition for a mere 95 runs. The team, led by Sachin Tendulkar, successfully chased down the target of 96 runs in just 16.5 overs, with Rohit contributing an unbeaten 27 runs off 30 balls. This performance was just the beginning of his remarkable journey with MI.

Rohit took over as MI's captain in 2013 after Ricky Ponting stepped down mid-season. Under his leadership, MI clinched their first IPL title, marking a historic moment for the franchise. Over the years, he led the team to secure a total of five IPL championships. However, in a surprising move, MI decided to relieve him of his captaincy before the 2024 season, appointing Hardik Pandya as his successor.

Rohit Sharma's Earnings Over the Years

Rohit Sharma has consistently been among the highest-paid players in the league. He joined the Mumbai Indians in 2011 for a staggering Rs 9.02 crore during the mega-auction. Despite interest from other franchises like Deccan Chargers and Punjab Kings, he remained with MI. For the next three years, his salary remained the same, but MI retained him before the 2014 mega-auction for Rs 12.50 crore. His earnings saw a significant increase to Rs 15 crore ahead of the 2018 auction.

Rohit Sharma's Salary Post-Captaincy

After being removed from the captaincy, MI continued to value Rohit's contributions, retaining him for Rs 16 crore until IPL 2024. Even after the leadership change, he was kept on for Rs 16.30 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega-auction. His salary for the upcoming seasons will be determined based on the retention prices set by the BCCI before the IPL 2028 auction.