Rohit Sharma Misses Out on 'All-Time Greats' List, But Wins Praise for Selfless Leadership

Despite an illustrious career filled with historic moments and records, Rohit Sharma still doesn’t feature on Sanjay Manjrekar’s list of India’s all-time greatest batters. This, according to the former cricketer, is largely because of Rohit's relatively modest impact in Test cricket compared to legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Virat Kohli.

Speaking on the Great Indian Cricket Show on Doordarshan, Manjrekar said,

"When we talk about India’s all-time great batters, the names that come up are Gavaskar, Tendulkar, Dravid, and Kohli. Rohit Sharma, as talented and successful as he is, doesn’t quite make that list."

But Manjrekar was quick to acknowledge Rohit’s brilliance in white-ball cricket and, more importantly, his selfless leadership—especially in the latter stages of his career.

"If you consider ODI cricket, captaincy, and playing for the team above self, Rohit absolutely stands out. What people saw in the 2023 World Cup changed how they felt about him—there was this deep admiration because he wasn’t playing for himself. That’s rare."

Rohit, who recently retired on May 7, finishes as India’s fourth-highest run-scorer across formats with over 19,700 runs. This includes 11,168 runs in ODIs, 4,301 in Tests, and several T20I milestones, including three double centuries in ODIs—a feat unmatched in men’s cricket.

While his white-ball legacy is sealed, it's his Test career that has held him back in all-time rankings. Rohit’s red-ball journey was inconsistent in the early years. Despite scoring a debut century in 2013, he struggled for a stable spot until 2019. That changed after his record-breaking 2019 World Cup, where he hit five centuries—still the most in a single edition—and was moved up as a Test opener.

From there, Rohit found new rhythm, scoring his first overseas Test century at The Oval in 2021 and leading India to memorable Test series wins, including against England and Australia.

Ultimately, Manjrekar’s point seems to reflect how Test cricket still weighs heavily in determining all-time great status. Rohit’s legacy, though, is unmistakably significant—especially for a generation that grew up watching his effortless strokeplay, quiet leadership, and team-first approach.