Fans were left bewildered with Rohit Sharma’s announcement of his retirement from the shortest format of the game. The Indian captain was last seen on the field after winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Afrika, when he bid goodbye from international cricket. In the post match press conference of this extraordinary win, Rohit declared he would rest from active play, suggesting he would also retire from the rest of the formats – Tests & ODIs – as well. Nonetheless, his childhood coach Dinesh Lad believes his ward may consider playing till the 2027 World Cup in ODI format.
In a conversation with Dainik Jagran, Lad asserted Rohit may announce the end of his Test career as well in spite of the World Test Championship the very next year. Still, the Mumbai batter will not quit playing ODIs until the World Cup in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe in 2027.
“No, look I am not saying that Rohit Sharma will announce his retirement after the World Test Championship, maybe he will. Because as his age is increasing, it seems that he may retire from Tests,” the leading Hindi daily quoted Rohit’s former coach as saying.
“I think this might also be because he desires to remain in good shape in order to play ODI cricket. I, however, guarantee 100 percent that Rohit Sharma would play in the 2027 ODI World Cup. He has shown remarkable form in the present type of cricket,” he added.
In a recent interview with fitness expert Jitendra Chouskey for the latter’s YouTube channel FITTR, Rohit stated that he could still compete in all three formats of the game, but believes that he has already done so in the past, and that the current generation should be allowed to play for India.
“The only reason I retired from T20Is was I have had my time. I loved engaging in the sport for the years I was able to do it. I played it for 17 years. We won a World Cup and that was the peak time for such a decision because I thought that, ‘Alright. I have played and it is time to do other things,’” Rohit expressed.
“There are several players who are capable of performing well for India. I just thought that the timing was right. I could still play all three formats for India easily. That’s why I said, fitness is in your mind. I am a person who believes in himself. I can switch off my mind whenever I have to. At times it is difficult but most of the time I am able to,” he appended.
