Rohit Sharma has already made his plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup very clear, and he does not want to let the 50-over game go and says he still has a lot to look forward to. The former India captain has put retirement talk aside and said the next World Cup is an important target as he continues his international career.
Rohit's comments come one day before India's ODI series against the West Indies with the first match in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27. With the 2027 ODI World Cup in Africa to be held in Africa, the veteran opener is already looking ahead to the next global event for him and what could be another major chapter in his illustrious international career.
Rohit said he does not regard his cricketing career as complete. He said that as long as he plays there will always be something to look forward to. Rohit’s goal for the 2027 World Cup is one of those big ones for him.
“The thought will never cross my mind that the business I had is finished. As long as you’re playing, there is always something to look forward to. And I’m looking forward to the World Cup, looking at what lies ahead for me,” Rohit said in a conversation with JioStar.
The Indian batter also emphasized the unique challenges of an ICC tournament. Rohit said that playing a World Cup requires teams and players to adapt as they face different opponents and play at different venues. And such situations force one to put in mind a different kind of preparation and rethink and then come up with a different strategy, he said.
Rohit’s comments also address the retirement speculation that has surrounded him in recent months. There was talk of retirement before India's ODI series against England, with some thinking that Lord’s ODI would be the end of his international career. Rohit did respond on the field by scoring a century at Lord’s but India lost the match.
The 2027 World Cup would be especially important for Rohit and Virat Kohli who have been at the helm of Indian cricket for over a decade. The duo have been together at many ODI World Cups since Rohit failed to make the 2011 title-winning team of India.
Rohit and Kohli were part of India’s campaigns at the 2015, 2019 and 2023 ODI World Cups. The 2023 edition came close to delivering another World Cup win to India but Australia beat the hosts by six wickets in the final in Ahmedabad. The defeat extended India’s wait for another ODI World Cup title.
Kohli was part of India's victorious World Cup squad in 2011 and has also expressed his desire to participate in the 2027 tournament. If both players stick around until then, it may be another top-class international tournament for two of India’s most experienced ODI players.
Rohit’s ODI numbers also underscore his importance to the format. He has 11,895 runs in 288 ODI appearances and he averages 48.95 with the bat. His 34 ODI centuries and three double hundreds also show he can produce big scores over his long career.
His three ODI double centuries remain one of the defining aspects of his record in the format. Rohit also has a reputation for turning starts into big scores, most notably when opening the innings for India.
However, the road to the 2027 World Cup will be a long one that is filled with challenges. India will have to be able to create an ODI combination which has to balance the demands and maturity of the senior team and younger players. Rohit would be another experienced option in the top order.
Rohit himself seems focused on what is ahead and not what has already been done. “Unfinished business”, as he said, is not so much a matter of finishing off and more so of wanting to be able to compete at the top and possibly do another World Cup.
The 2027 ODI World Cup as a whole is scheduled for Africa and is expected to present a different playing environment and challenge to the last batch. Rohit's own comments speak to the fact that he likes the challenge of changing opponents, venues and situations.
Retirement is not the focus for Rohit Sharma at present. The veteran batsman is now on the next big target on his international calendar when it comes to going to the 2027 World Cup and getting selected. But his comments made it plain that Rohit still has some unfinished business in ODI cricket.
