NEW DELHI: When Rohit Sharma takes India out for the World Cup final on Sunday, he will carry a billion hopes with him, the apex of a journey that began in poverty but has led to a personal fortune of around $25 million and the high-pressure leadership of the national cricket team.
The 36-year-old opener, nicknamed "Hitman" for his tendency to produce big scores quickly, has accumulated 550 runs at the tournament, trailing only teammate Virat Kohli (711) ahead of Sunday's match against Australia in front of approximately 130,000 fans.