The BCCI has dismissed reports claiming Sunday’s third ODI against England at Lord’s could be Rohit Sharma’s final appearance for India, insisting there has been no discussion about the veteran opener retiring after the series.
The clarification comes after widespread speculation surrounding Rohit’s future, with reports suggesting the senior selection committee had decided to move on from the former captain as part of India’s preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
BCCI denies retirement speculation
Responding to the rumours, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia categorically rejected claims that the Lord’s ODI would mark the end of Rohit’s international career.
“There are a lot of speculations going on in the media about Rohit’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 said.
He added that Rohit remains an important member of India’s ODI setup and will continue to be available for selection as long as he remains part of the team’s plans. The statement marks the BCCI’s first official response since speculation over Rohit’s future gathered momentum.
Why the rumours began
The speculation stemmed from a report which claimed the selectors, along with head coach Gautam Gambhir, had informed Rohit that he did not feature in India’s plans beyond the England series.
The report also suggested the management wanted to begin investing in younger players ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, with Yashasvi Jaiswal among those waiting for extended opportunities at the top of the order.
The rumours gained further traction as Rohit endured a modest start to the England series, scoring 11 and 26 in the opening two ODIs.
Focus shifts back to the series
Despite the reports, neither Rohit nor the team management has indicated that retirement is imminent. The 39-year-old has already retired from T20Is after leading India to the 2024 World Cup title and stepped away from Test cricket in 2025, leaving ODIs as his only international format.
With the BCCI now publicly denying that Sunday’s fixture has been earmarked as Rohit’s farewell, the focus returns to the series decider at Lord’s rather than speculation over his future.
For now, the board’s position is clear: there has been no discussion about the England ODI being Rohit Sharma’s last match for India.
Source: Hindustan Times
