Following a long and impactful career with the Indian cricket team, both as a dynamic batsman and a leader, captain Rohit Sharma is expected to make a decision regarding his future in One Day International (ODI) cricket after the Champions Trophy. This decision is anticipated regardless of the tournament’s outcome. Rohit is on the verge of becoming only the second captain, after Mahendra Singh Dhoni, to secure multiple ICC event wins, with India entering the final against New Zealand as strong favorites. Similar to the post-T20 World Cup final announcements by both Rohit and Virat Kohli regarding their exit from the shortest format, speculation suggests this upcoming match could be Rohit’s last appearance in the Indian ODI jersey.
Sources within the BCCI indicate that discussions between Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar about his future are planned after the tournament concludes.
In Indian cricket, the future of high-profile players is often a collaborative decision. Players, in consultation with board decision-makers, play a significant role in determining their path forward. The situation is nuanced and not always a straightforward decision made solely by selectors.
If India triumphs in the Champions Trophy, it is plausible that the captain might announce his retirement. His absence from the pre-final press conference suggests a desire to avoid retirement-related questions before the crucial match.
Deputy captain Shubman Gill’s adherence to the line of “No discussions on retirement” further highlights the sensitivity of the matter.
It’s important to note that the situations of Rohit and Kohli regarding format retirements are distinct. Their T20 format exits after the World Cup were logical, given their achievements in that format.
However, in other formats, Virat Kohli is still actively pursuing milestones, such as reaching 10,000 Test runs, a feat already achieved by players like Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson.
Therefore, Kohli’s Test career is expected to continue, especially considering India’s upcoming tours to SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) where his experience is valuable, particularly with the inconsistent performances of players like Gill in those conditions and the pressure on younger batsmen like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant.
In Rohit’s case, he had previously opted out of a Test match in Sydney during the Australian tour. Even a Champions Trophy victory may not guarantee a return to his peak form in Test cricket.
The question remains whether selectors will persist with Rohit as Test captain for the England series. If he does participate in that tour, the home series against the West Indies could serve as a potential farewell in Test cricket. Both series are part of the next World Test Championship cycle.
However, for this to happen, both Agarkar’s committee and Rohit himself need to be convinced of his commitment to playing the Test series against England.
If Rohit decides against Test cricket, his ODI schedule becomes limited to just six away matches (three against Bangladesh and three against Australia) before a home ODI series against South Africa in December.
The Indian team’s Future Tours Programme (FTP) calendar indicates a gap in home ODI matches until the South Africa series in December.
Apart from Sachin Tendulkar, who received a memorable farewell at Wankhede Stadium, most recent players haven’t had similar grand send-offs.
Ashish Nehra, despite a modest career, received a farewell match in Delhi, largely due to then-captain Virat Kohli’s desire to give him a warm send-off.
The question of Rohit’s ODI future remains open. An interesting aspect of Rohit potentially continuing in ODIs is the FTP schedule, which shows no home ODI matches until December.
This effectively means that after March 9th, Rohit would have to wait until December for another home 50-over game, unless he participates in away ODI series against Bangladesh, the Asia Cup (in Sri Lanka), and another three games in Australia.
If Rohit doesn’t envision himself playing in the 2027 ODI World Cup, it raises the question of whether he will continue in the 50-over format, which has diminished importance in the bilateral series cycle. A clearer picture is expected by Sunday night.
