Book Excerpt: The Rise of the Hitman: The Rohit Sharma Story, by R Kaushik

In The Rise of the Hitman, R Kaushik traces Rohit Sharma's journey right from his early days in Mumbai's gullies to ultimate glory in Bridgetown. Through the eyes of his contemporaries, friends, coaches, and loved ones, the book paints an inspiring story of the cricketer's evolution—not just as a sportsperson but as a leader and icon. With a foreword by Sharma's wife and manager, Ritika Sajdeh, the book offers an intimate glimpse into the milestones that shaped his remarkable career. From overcoming setbacks to silencing critics, The Rise of the Hitman is a tribute to Rohit Sharma's talent and unwavering determination.

Excerpt: Foreword by Ritika Sajdeh

The Ro I know and love -Ritika Sajdeh

What can I say about this man? Words truly fail me. I met Ro in 2008 and as soon as I got to know him, I knew he would be in my life forever. Maybe not as my husband (that was a happy surprise!) but because I recognized how special he was as a human being, and I wanted that goodness in my life. He’s just so unapologetically himself and that is incredibly refreshing. What you see is what you get. And people like that are hard to find. He has a heart of gold and will go that extra mile for anyone he cares about. To know Ro is to love him. Whoever’s eyes you look at him through, you will see the same Ro, that’s how genuine he is. 

I have watched Ro strive, toil, rise up, fall down, being criticized and then raised to a level he never imagined he’d reach. But through it all, he has remained the same. The boy I met in 2008 is still the same man he is today, just a little wiser and a lot stronger mentally.

I have watched every innings Ro has played since the day I met him, be it for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy or for India, and, just like the rest of the country, I truly love his game! It brings us joy to watch him do what he does, and his kids and I are and always will be proud of the player and the man he is. He is the most present father who takes true joy in doing small and big things with his children.

I am very proud of the man he is on the field and everything he has achieved, but what I am most proud of is his heart and everything it beats for; his game, his players, his family, his friends, the environment, animals and so much more. I could go on and on but I’m not the one writing the book on Ro. I’ll leave that to Kaushik.