Indian cricket vice-captain Rohit Sharma showcased his unwavering dedication to the game on Tuesday, politely turning down a fan's offer of a popular Mumbai snack to keep his focus sharp on the upcoming challenges. The incident occurred as the star batter was preparing for a practice session ahead of India's One Day International series against New Zealand, set to begin this Sunday.
Fan's Snack Offer Politely Refused
A video that quickly went viral on various social media platforms captured the moment. A fan approached Rohit Sharma, who had recently played for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and asked him in Marathi if he would like a vada pav. The Mumbaikar, known for his love of local street food, responded with a characteristic smile but declined the offer. He immediately returned to his training regimen, underlining his professional commitment.
Soon after the clip gained widespread attention, Sharma, often nicknamed 'Hitman', shared a photo on his official Instagram account. The image showed him putting in hard yards in the cricket nets, giving fans a direct look at the intense preparation underway for the crucial home series against the Black Caps.
A Landmark Year of Records and Achievements
The year 2025 has been exceptionally significant for Rohit Sharma's illustrious career. He played a decisive, match-winning innings of 76 runs in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy, anchoring India's chase to seal the prestigious title. His consistent performances were further recognized when he reached the top of the ICC ODI batting rankings for the first time ever, also becoming India's third-highest run-scorer in the 50-over format.
Last month, the batter entered an elite group during the third ODI against South Africa in Visakhapatnam. By crossing the 20,000-run milestone in international cricket, he became only the fourth Indian cricketer to achieve this phenomenal feat. Furthermore, in November, he rewrote the record books by surpassing Pakistan's Shahid Afridi's long-standing record for the most sixes in ODI history. He hit his 352nd maximum in Ranchi, moving past Afridi's tally of 351, a record that had stood since 2015. In 279 ODIs so far, Rohit has now smashed 355 sixes.
Closing 2025 on a High Note
Rohit Sharma concluded the 2025 calendar year with impressive statistics, amassing 650 runs from 14 innings at an average of 50.00. His strike rate remained over 100, and his tally included two centuries and four half-centuries, with a top score of 121. This stellar form and his current focused training suggest the New Zealand bowlers will have a formidable challenge on their hands when the series kicks off.
