'Hitman' Turns 37: A Look At Rohit Sharma’s Brand Endorsement Journey

Today marks the 37th birthday of the celebrated Hitman of Indian cricket, Rohit Sharma . Renowned for his perfect timing, exceptional leadership, and ability to capture the hearts of cricket aficionados, he stands tall not just as a cricket icon but also as a beacon in the world of brand endorsements. Born on April 30, 1987 , in Maharashtra's Nagpur, cricketer Rohit Sharma first joined a cricket camp in 1999, when his uncle's friend, coach Dinesh Lad, recognised his talent. He started his career by making his List A debut in 2006 for West Zone in the Deodhar Trophy against Central Zone in Gwalior. His prowess continued as he made his first-class debut for India A against New Zealand A at Darwin. In the 2006–07 season, Sharma made his Ranji Trophy debut for Mumbai against Gujarat. In October 2013, following the retirement of Ajit Agarkar, he was named captain of the Mumbai team. His Test debut at Kolkata's Eden Gardens in November 2013 against the West Indies marked the beginning of a new chapter in Sharma's illustrious career. His entry into the Cricket World Cup arena in March 2015 saw him play a pivotal role for India. He played eight matches and scored 330 runs, including one century. However, it was in the 2019 Cricket World Cup series where Sharma’s extraordinary performance, including five centuries, set a new benchmark, making him the first batsman to achieve such a feat in a single World Cup tournament. He made 648 runs, making him the leading run scorer in the tournament and also earning him the ICC Golden Bat award. Furthermore, in October 2019, during the third Test against South Africa, he not only surpassed the 2,000-run mark but also hit his double century, solidifying his status as the ‘Hitman.’ Besides being the 'Hitman', Sharma has also left an indelible mark on the world of endorsements. He has endorsed a multitude of brands and is ranked 13th on Kroll's Celebrity Brand Ranking 2022, with a brand value of $49.5 million. Sharma has also appeared in numerous Indian Premier League (IPL) advertisements. As he turns 37 today, let’s reminisce about his journey by revisiting some of his most notable brand endorsements. Oral-B India In a recent campaign for Oral-B Criss Cross, the brand roped in Sharma as its brand ambassador. The campaign was conceptualised by DDB Mudra. The ad film begins with the ‘Hitman’ struggling to brush his teeth when suddenly a dental hygienist appears in the mirror, informing him that the straight bristles of his toothbrush may not effectively reach hidden germs. He then presents the Oral-B Criss Cross, explaining how its design reaches all corners of the mouth, ridding it of germs. Towards the end, the captain of the Indian national cricket team can be seen smiling at his reflection in the mirror, holding an Oral-B Criss Cross toothbrush. Dream11 Sharma, Dream11’s brand ambassador, was featured in their IPL campaign alongside Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Samantha Prabhu, Suniel Shetty, Shreyas Iyer, Preity Zinta, Supriya Pathak, Daler Mehndi, Danish Sait, and cricket legends Srikanth and Mohinder Amarnath. The campaign, conceptualised by Tilt Brand Solutions and titled 'Team Se Bada Kuch Nahi,' explores the relationships among Indian cricketers during the IPL season. The ad opens with the ‘Hitman’ attempting to board Pant’s bus. Pant redirects him to ‘his bus,’ emphasising their different teams. The Pandya brothers, Krunal and Hardik, are depicted engaging in banter at a hotel reception, highlighting their IPL rivalry as they’re on different teams despite being siblings. The ad depicts multiple scenarios that show the amicable yet fiercely competitive atmosphere among players. It also shows how Bollywood personalities have their favourite teams. For instance, Daler Mehndi sings about Mumbai Indians losing, while Zinta, owner of the Punjab Kings, and Pathak, a supporter of the Chennai Super Kings, engage in their banter. Pathak playfully messes up the pronunciation of Zinta’s name, to which Zinta corrects her. Pathak then tells her that after the match, Zinta will be the one worrying, to which Zinta responds with laughter, saying she'll laugh at the joke tomorrow. Adidas In 2023, Adidas celebrated the launch of the new Adidas team India jersey with a campaign by Fundamental, which features top cricketers such as Sharma, Harmanpreet Kaur, Virat Kohli , Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, Smriti Mandhana, and Renuka Singh Thakur, alongside passionate Indian cricket fans. The ad aimed to explore the profound meaning of the Indian cricket team jersey through the perspectives of players and fans. It opened with players expressing the difficulty of explaining the significance of the jersey, followed by Sharma stating, “which bears the name of one,” with a fan continuing, “but also belongs to the entire nation.” The ‘Hitman’ and Kaur added, “How do I describe it?” as fans embraced the jersey, capturing the essence of the collective ownership felt by the nation. Pandya reflected on how wearing the jersey halts everything around him, with a scene of a passionate fan praying for India’s victory and the sound of a heart beating symbolising cricket as the heartbeat of the nation. Kohli stated that wearing the jersey evokes a sense of royalty. The ad showcased fans cheering and travelling for the game, representing the widespread passion for cricket. Towards the end, players reiterated the impossibility of describing their emotions towards the jersey, emphasising that wearing it instils the belief that “impossible is nothing.” The ad portrayed players and fans complementing each other’s sentiments, set against various backdrops like dusty lanes, crowded terraces, buses, and trains, depicting the unwavering devotion to the jersey through all circumstances. JioCinema JioCinema appointed Sharma as its brand ambassador. In an ad for TATA IPL on JioCinema, titled ‘Hitman Joins the Party!’, the Indian national cricket team captain is seen walking in accompanied by a makeup artist, stylist, and assistant. Sharma proudly identifies himself as the "opener" for team JioCinema , but the narrator unexpectedly labels him as the "tailender". The narrator then humorously adds, "Don't mind, but before you," indicating that he isn’t the first to watch IPL on JioCinema. CEAT In a TVC for CEAT’s SUV tyres for four-wheelers, conceptualised by Ogilvy, featuring cricketers Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, and the ‘Hitman’ himself, Sharma takes on the role of a politician riding in the backseat of the car, with Gill cast as his assistant and Iyer as his driver. He gives a lesson to Gill, emphasising the importance of possessing both speed and control to succeed in politics. As he shares this wisdom, Iyer faces a scenario where he must navigate through a crowd of protesters on the road, which he successfully manages with speed and control combined. In the process, he repeats Sharma's advice to Gill. And in the end, the ad concludes with Sharma saying, "Make sure to write that down." Noise Noise had roped in Sharma as its brand ambassador for its fitness wear category. In an ad for Noise ColorFit Pro 2, he was seen wearing the brand's smartwatch and warming up while attempting to filter out the noises of critics in his mind until he finally says to himself, "Bas, enough of that talk." Towards the end, he can be seen practising, and then he says, "Tune in; listen to your inner voice." Nissan Nissan roped in Sharma, Andre Russell, and Suzie Bates to its lineup of global cricket ambassadors in 2016. In an ad for the Japanese automobile manufacturer, Bates and Sharma are seated inside a car. Russell, with precision, sends a cricket ball racing through the open windows, knocking the wickets beside the car. Sharma steps out of the vehicle, bat in hand, and declares, "Game on,” and then Russell and Sharma engage in a spirited game. Rasna The 'Hitman' was featured in a Rasna ad titled 'Rasna Insta Energy.' The ad showcases a young boy playing cricket and questioning why he isn't hitting sixes like he did in the morning. Suddenly, Sharma appears and says, "Six needs five; for just five rupees, you’ll get Rasna Insta Energy,” elaborating on its benefits. He then tosses a bottle of Rasna Insta Energy towards the boy, who catches it with a confused expression. After quickly drinking it, the boy feels re-energised and resumes playing with full energy. Max Life Insurance Sharma and his wife, Ritika Sajdeh , were appointed as brand ambassadors for Max Life Insurance. The campaign, titled ‘Sharma ji ka Beta,’ begins with playful clips of Sharma and Sajdeh, providing a peek into Sharma's life off the field. In the ad film, Sajdeh takes on the role of an interviewer, starting with, “You are the difference to many people’s lives; that’s why we want to ask you a few questions,” to which Sharma nods. She delves into his personal life, asking about his pre-game rituals, alternative career choices, and guilty pleasures. When Sharma confesses his guilty pleasure is online shopping, he humorously points to Sajdeh, saying, “You as well, by the way,” to which she replies, “Not as much as you.” As the conversation progresses, she uncovers insights into his role as a family man by asking if he's ever been called 'Sharma ji ka Beta' and if she's a better wife or manager. Sharma acknowledges her skills in both roles but praises her as a great mother. They also discuss common traits between him and their daughter, Samaira. In the end, Sajdeh exclaims, "Wow, Sharma ji ke bete, what answers?” and they share a high five. USHA Sharma and the Pandya brothers were featured in an ad for USHA fans. The ad starts with a playful banter between the Pandya brothers about which one of them is the 'real’ striker. Until the 'Hitman' walks in and settles the dispute by switching on the fan and saying, "A real striker is a fast spinner," prompting the Pandya brothers to look upward towards the fan above in appreciation, causing them to enjoy the cool breeze. Apart from these brands, he has also endorsed brands such as Lays, Bournvita, BharatPe, Oakley, Booking.com, Hublot, SHARP, CricKingdom, Trusox, New Era, Aristocrat, Massimo Batteries, Conekt Gadgets, LaLiga, IIFL Finance, Vega, Financepeer, goibibo, Birla Sun Life Insurance, Walkaroo, OPPO, Tagg, Dr Trust and more.

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