BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has downplayed speculation on Rohit Sharma’s ODI future. It was reported by Indian Express during the second ODI that Rohit will play his final ODI for India in the third game against England.
“There are lot of speculations going on in media about Rohit Sharma’s future. I want to firmly assert that there has been no such discussion that Rohit will be playing his last match at Lord’s on Sunday,” Saikia told PTI. “Rohit is a regular member of the Indian ODI team and he will continue to represent the country as long as he is in the scheme of things. In other words, Lord’s ODI wont be his last match.”
It was understood that selectors had informed the veteran batter about their decision that they want to back a young player ahead of the next ODI World Cup.
Rohit has been one of the strongest pillars of India’s white-ball teams in the last decade and a half along with Virat Kohli. After missing the 2011 ODI World Cup at home, Rohit’s performance in the next three ODI showpieces was up to the mark.
Rohit also led India to the final of the 2023 World Cup in home conditions but the team could not cross the last hurdle against Australia in the summit clash at Ahmedabad.
Meanwhile, Rohit has worked on his fitness and he has also delivered consistently in the 50-over format. Even if we take the big-player emotion out of the question, it doesn’t make much sense to move past Rohit Sharma just yet.
Rohit has cleared that he wants to be part of the ODI squad for the 2027 World Cup.
Meanwhile, Rohit has looked a bit rusty in the two ODIs against England. Rohit was dismissed after scoring 11 runs off 21 balls in the opening ODI at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Tuesday after he advanced down the track against Sam Curran but holed out to Harry Brook at mid-off.
Furthermore, Rohit could only manage 26 runs off 47 balls in the second ODI at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff on Thursday. After facing nine dot balls on the bounce, Rohit went for the sweep against Will Jacks but managed a bottom edge, which balloned to Jos Buttler.
