Rohit Sharma’s future in international cricket has once again come under the spotlight, with reports suggesting Sunday’s third ODI against England at Lord’s could be his final appearance in Indian colours.
According to The Indian Express, the BCCI’s senior selection committee has informed Rohit that he does not feature in India’s plans beyond the ongoing England series, with the focus now shifting towards building a squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
The report claims the selectors, along with head coach Gautam Gambhir, recently conveyed their decision to the former India captain, leaving the final call on retirement to the 39-year-old.
Selectors looking towards the future
India has already begun their transition in the 50-over format.
Shubman Gill replaced Rohit as ODI captain last year, while youngsters such as Yashasvi Jaiswal continue to wait for extended opportunities at the top of the order. According to the report, the selectors believe it is time to invest in players who could form the core of India’s 2027 World Cup campaign.
The report added that Rohit wanted to continue after working on his fitness, but the selectors have made it clear that they are planning for the future.
Form has added to the speculation
The timing of the reports comes amid a lean run with the bat.
Rohit managed scores of 11 and 26 in the first two ODIs against England, while his home series against Afghanistan last month produced knocks of 79, 48 and 16. His IPL campaign earlier this year was also below expectations, leading to renewed scrutiny over both his form and fitness. Every innings has therefore carried added significance, particularly with reports suggesting India’s long-term planning has already begun.
A remarkable ODI legacy
If Lord’s does prove to be Rohit’s final ODI, he will leave behind one of the greatest careers in the format.
He captained India to the 2023 ODI World Cup final and transformed the team’s batting approach with his aggressive starts at the top of the order. That fearless template was later carried into India’s victorious 2024 T20 World Cup campaign before Rohit retired from the shortest format. He also stepped away from Test cricket in 2025, leaving ODIs as his only remaining international format.
For now, neither Rohit nor the BCCI has officially commented on the reports. But with discussions around India’s transition gathering pace, Sunday’s ODI at Lord’s could carry significance beyond the result.
If the reports prove accurate, one of India’s finest white-ball careers may be about to draw to a close.
