Brand Rohit Sharma: 'Hitman' on field, an 'Everyman' in the mad ad world

Rohit Sharma, whom advertisers count on for reliability, faces stern test to grow brand equity as India captain

The moniker “hitman” sits well with Rohit Sharma, as only his batting tends to be explosive. His recent elevation as the all-format captain of the Indian men’s cricket team is set to lift his brand equity, say experts, his laid-back and quiet-yet-efficient persona notwithstanding. But for his brand to evolve further and compare with his high-profile predecessors — M S Dhoni and Virat Kohli — the match has only just begun.

The 34-year-old has barely broken a sweat in his new role, as India swept aside two low-ranking teams — West Indies and Sri Lanka — without losing a single