‘My soulmate, my best friend’: Ritika’s birthday wish for Rohit melts hearts

New Delhi: A heartfelt letter written by wife Ritika Sajdeh stood out among the many wishes from the cricketing fraternity on Rohit Sharma’s 39th birthday on Thursday.Ritika penned a heartfelt message on Instagram that quickly struck a chord with her fans. “Happy birthday, my Ro. Every year I say you are my best friend, my soulmate, the best part of us, and this year is no exception. For everything we have in this life and more,” she wrote.The post, filled with warmth and emotion, went viral within minutes and gave people a glimpse into the personal side of one of India’s most famous cricketers.MI locker room celebration adds joyThe celebrations didn’t stop on social media. Mumbai Indians shared a graphic video from the dressing room where Rohit is seen cutting a birthday cake surrounded by his teammates. Ritika was also there, standing next to him as the players smeared cake on his face in a relaxed celebration.The video quickly gained traction online with fans enjoying the candid moment of the former Mumbai Indians captain sharing a laugh with his team.Condolences poured in from cricket fraternityBirthday wishes poured in from the cricketers. The Board of Control for Cricket in India highlighted Rohit’s remarkable career, pointing to his more than 500 international caps and over 20,000 matches, as well as his achievements as a World Cup-winning captain.Former opening partner Shikhar Dhawan recalled their successful partnership, while Suresh Raina hailed him as “one of the best players the game has ever seen”. Irfan Pathan and Mohammed Shami also sent messages, highlighting the respect Rohit enjoys in the cricketing world.A legacy that continues to growRohit is widely regarded as the modern white-ball superstar and has built a stellar career since making his debut in 2007. He has led India to major ICC titles, including the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy, cementing his legacy as a successful leader.At the team level, his captaincy led Mumbai Indians to become one of the most dominant teams in IPL history, leading them to five championships.Although Rohit has withdrawn from Tests and T20Is, he continues to represent India in ODIs and remains an integral part of the IPL.