India opener Rohit Sharma added another remarkable achievement to his illustrious career by becoming the oldest male cricketer to represent India in One-Day Internationals.
The landmark came during the first ODI against Afghanistan in Dharamshala, nearly 19 years after Rohit made his ODI debut against Ireland in Belfast on June 23, 2007.
At 39 years and 44 days old, Rohit surpassed the previous record held by former India all-rounder Mohinder Amarnath, who was 39 years and 36 days old when he played his final ODI against the West Indies in October 1989.
Oldest Players To Represent India In Men’s ODIs
| Rank | Player | Age | Opposition | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rohit Sharma | 39 years, 44 days | Afghanistan | June 13, 2026 |
| 2 | Mohinder Amarnath | 39 years, 36 days | West Indies | October 30, 1989 |
| 3 | Sachin Tendulkar | 38 years, 329 days | Pakistan | March 18, 2012 |
| 4 | Rahul Dravid | 38 years, 248 days | England | September 16, 2011 |
| 5 | Sunil Gavaskar | 38 years, 118 days | England | November 5, 1987 |
While Rohit now holds the men’s ODI longevity record for India, the overall Indian ODI record still belongs to Jhulan Goswami. The legendary fast bowler played her final ODI at 39 years and 303 days during her farewell match at Lord’s in 2022.
Another Major Milestone For Rohit
The veteran batter reached another significant landmark during his brief innings.
By scoring six runs in India’s chase, Rohit became only the second Indian opener after Virender Sehwag to accumulate 16,000 international runs as an opener across all formats.
He also overtook South African great Jacques Kallis on the all-time ODI run-scorers list, moving into eighth position overall.
Historic Match Between India And Afghanistan
The Dharamshala encounter marked the beginning of the first-ever bilateral ODI series between India and Afghanistan. Until now, the two nations had only faced each other in ICC tournaments and Asia Cup competitions.
Persistent rain delayed the start by more than four hours, forcing officials to reduce the contest to 25 overs per side.
Afghanistan posted 194 after a sensational century from Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who smashed 102 off just 51 deliveries.
India’s debutants impressed with the ball, as fast bowler Gurnoor Brar and left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey claimed three wickets each to help bowl out Afghanistan in 24.5 overs.
Rohit’s Landmark Day Ends In Frustration
Rohit looked in fine touch during the chase, striking two boundaries and a six as India got off to a strong start.
However, his historic appearance ended prematurely when a mix-up with captain Shubman Gill resulted in a run-out for 16, cutting short what appeared to be a promising innings.
Gill ensured the setback did not affect India’s pursuit, producing a composed unbeaten 84. He was well supported by KL Rahul, who remained not out on 39 from just 19 balls.
The duo guided India to 195/3 with 13 balls remaining, sealing a seven-wicket victory and a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
With another record added to his growing legacy, Rohit continues to rewrite Indian cricket history even in the latter stages of his international career.