Dr. Rohit Sharma! India's star cricketer to receive an honorary doctorate in Pune

Rohit Sharma to receive honorary doctorate in Pune [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/x.com]

India’s star cricketer and former captain Rohit Sharma is all set to receive an honorary doctorate from Ajeenkya DY Patil University during its 10th Convocation Ceremony in Pune on Saturday.

While announcing the decision, the university said that the honour will acknowledge Sharma’s exceptional contributions to Indian cricket and his outstanding leadership on the international stage. ADYPU President and Chancellor Dr Ajeenkya D. Y. Patil will honour the celebrating individuals whose work has significantly impacted society.

“While fans know him as the ‘Hitman’ of cricket, this convocation represents a different milestone in Rohit Sharma’s journey,” the university mentioned in a statement.

The statement further read, "By bestowing this Honorary Doctorate, ADYPU recognises the values of resilience and strategy that he represents—qualities that resonate deeply with the graduating class of 2026."

A reflection on Rohit Sharma’s international career

Rohit Sharma has had a stellar career while playing for India. His contributions to the game, especially in white-ball cricket, have been nothing short of exceptional. His 19-year international career has seen him achieve many notable accomplishments for his country.

The double-century king in ODI cricket first played for India back in 2007, and even though he is now retired from T20Is and Tests, he continues to be an integral part of the ODI setup. He is now eyeing the 2027 ODI World Cup and is completely dedicated to making an impact.

In his career, Rohit Sharma has played 282 ODI games and has 11577 runs under his belt at an average of 48.9, with 264 against Sri Lanka being his highest score. In Tests, he played 67 games, having scored 4301 runs at an average of 40.6. As for T20Is, 159 games and scored 4231 runs. He ended his T20I career with a win in the T20 World Cup 2024.

After the heartbreak in the ODI World Cup in 2023, Rohit Sharma was eager to end India’s ICC trophy drought in 2024, and the entire nation celebrated his achievement. He became only the third captain to guide India to a World Cup win and also helped India win their first ICC trophy since 2013.

He continued that excellent run in the Champions Trophy in 2025, where India dominated once again to lift yet another major title under his reign. This made him the second captain, after MS Dhoni, to win multiple ICC trophies for India.

Rohit Sharma continues to dominate in ODIs

After Rohit retired from T20Is and Tests, his place in the ODI setup was also under threat. However, he proved why he is one of the greatest batters India has produced with brilliant performances against Australia and South Africa towards the end of 2025.

He also returned to play India’s domestic competition, the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and took the tournament by storm. His excellent form has dispelled all the questions about his form, and he is still in serious contention for the ODI World Cup 2027.