Rohit Sharma reveals why his mother chose number 45 for his jersey
Synopsis
Rohit Sharma's famous number 45 wasn't a carefully planned branding decision — it was a compromise born out of a late-night hotel call with his mother. With number 19 taken by Rahul Dravid and the single-digit options gone, his mother's numerology instinct turned 4+5 into cricket's most iconic jersey.
Key Takeaways
Rohit Sharma revealed the story behind his number 45 jersey on his show 'Family Full House with Rohit Sharma' on Sony Entertainment Television .
He originally wore number 19 in the Under-19 team but was told it was Rahul Dravid's number and could not be used for the senior India side.
Rohit called his mother from the hotel that evening and asked her to pick a new number for him.
His mother suggested number 9 for numerological reasons; since it was unavailable, Rohit settled on 45 because 4+5 = 9 and he felt it looked good on a jersey.
The show is currently streaming on Sony LIV .
Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma has opened up about the surprisingly personal story behind his iconic number 45 jersey — a choice that ultimately came down to a late-evening phone call with his mother. The revelation came on his gaming reality show 'Family Full House with Rohit Sharma', currently airing on Sony Entertainment Television and streaming on Sony LIV.
The Number That Almost Wasn't
Rohit traced the origin of his jersey number to his earliest days in competitive cricket. When he first wore a numbered jersey, he wanted a single-digit number — but by the time it was his turn to choose, all the popular single digits had already been taken by teammates.
'It was a very simple logic,' Rohit said on the show. 'When I played cricket in a jersey for the first time...people had already chosen all the numbers — number 5, number 8, number 9. I wanted a single-digit number, but everyone had already chosen.'
The only number available was 19, which Rohit liked and wore during his Under-19 career. For a while, that looked like the number he would carry into senior cricket.
Why Rahul Dravid Changed Everything
The situation changed when a fellow cricketer pointed out a critical conflict. As Rohit recalled, a teammate told him, 'Hey brother, this is Under-19, you will play in the India team, you can't take this number.' When Rohit asked why, the reply was blunt: number 19 belonged to Rahul Dravid, who was not only wearing it at the time but was also serving as captain of the senior Indian side.
That conversation forced Rohit to find a new number — and quickly. It was a pivotal moment for a young cricketer navigating the gap between junior and senior cricket.
Mom Makes the Call — Literally
Rohit's response was instinctive: he called his mother. 'So right after that, immediately in the evening, I reached the hotel and called mom. I told Mom, 'Mom, I can't play with this number. Now you tell me which number I should play with. So, mom picked this number '45' for me,' he said.
His mother's initial suggestion was number 9 — considered auspicious in numerology — but that too was unavailable. Rohit was unwilling to settle for 27, and found himself gravitating toward the combination of 4 and 5. Crucially, 4 + 5 = 9, satisfying his mother's numerological preference while also giving him a jersey number he felt looked good.
'Mom told me, 'Play with number 9, it will be good for you'. The number 9 had gone...So I was really liking 4 and 5 being around. So I also gave this feedback to my mom that 4-5 looks much better,' Rohit explained.
From Necessity to Identity
What began as a process of elimination has since become one of Indian cricket's most recognisable identifiers. For fans, the sight of #45 is synonymous with the 'Hitman' — a nickname Rohit has carried through multiple World Cup campaigns, IPL titles with Mumbai Indians, and his rise to the captaincy of the Indian team across all formats.
The story, shared on the show after actor Rahul Lohani asked Rohit about the number's significance, underscores how the seemingly trivial details of a sporting career can carry deep personal meaning. As 'Family Full House with Rohit Sharma' continues its run on Sony, fans can expect more such candid windows into the cricketer's life off the field.
Point of View
Unguarded moment from one of India's most commercially managed sporting figures. It is also a reminder that behind every piece of cricket iconography — the Hitman nickname, the pull shot, the jersey number — there is often a mundane, human origin story. The fact that Rohit credits his mother for the choice resonates precisely because Indian audiences understand the weight of that kind of family decision. Whether by design or candour, this is exactly the kind of content that builds long-term parasocial loyalty — and Sony's show format is well-positioned to mine it.
NationPress
30 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Rohit Sharma choose jersey number 45?
Rohit Sharma chose number 45 after his preferred number 19 was unavailable — it was already associated with Rahul Dravid, the then-India captain. His mother suggested number 9 for numerological reasons, and since that was also taken, Rohit settled on 45 because 4+5 equals 9 and he felt it looked good on a jersey.
What number did Rohit Sharma originally wear?
Rohit Sharma originally wore number 19 during his Under-19 career. He gave it up after a teammate pointed out it was Rahul Dravid's number and could not be used once he represented the senior India team.
Who chose Rohit Sharma's jersey number 45?
Rohit Sharma's mother effectively chose the number. After he called her from a hotel asking for guidance, she recommended number 9 for its numerological value. Since 9 was unavailable, Rohit proposed 45 — which adds up to 9 — and his mother agreed.
Where did Rohit Sharma share this story?
Rohit shared the story on his gaming reality show 'Family Full House with Rohit Sharma', which airs on Sony Entertainment Television and streams on Sony LIV. The question was posed by actor Rahul Lohani during a conversation on the show.
What is 'Family Full House with Rohit Sharma'?
'Family Full House with Rohit Sharma' is a gaming reality show hosted by Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma. It airs on Sony Entertainment Television and is also available for streaming on Sony LIV.
