Rohit Sharma is on the cusp of retirement, but he is not letting the buzz about his future take away from his game.
Rohit has made it clear that his focus is on performing for India. When he scored a record 138 against England at Lord's in July, the veteran opener was adamant that his job was to continue representing his country and contribute to the team’s success.
The comments came at a particularly relevant time because the 2027 World Cup will be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, with Rohit turning 40 during the tournament year. So his age and India’s plans for the next World Cup have become regular topics of conversation.
Rohit Sharma is based on performance and not retirement.
Rohit’s international future was under scrutiny after reports said the selectors were considering moving on from him in ODIs. In July, a report stated that the selection committee had informed the batter that he was not part of their plans for the 2027 World Cup.
But the situation changed after Rohit did well in the England ODI series. He made 138 in the third ODI at Lord's to end an 11-ODI wait for a century. Even though India lost the series, his innings proved he could still contribute at the highest level.
After that match, Rohit said speculation had been around since the beginning of his career and that what really mattered to him was what he did on the field.
His message was simple: as long as he plays, the outside noise will come, but he will keep his mind on cricket.
That sentiment is backed by the BCCI. Secretary Devajit Saikia strongly supported Rohit after the board’s September review meeting, pointing to his recent performances and saying the veteran batter was “playing superbly”. He said the board had prepared a roadmap for a strong performance at the 2027 World Cup by reference to Rohit’s 130-plus score.
Will Rohit Sharma play the 2027 World Cup?
Rohit is not yet part of the 2027 World Cup squad as selected by the Indian selection team. So it will all depend on his performances, physical condition, and whether or not he is fit and selected by the national selectors.
What is clear is that retirement has not been announced.
Rohit retired from Test cricket in 2025 and T20Is in 2024, so ODI cricket is now his only international format. So that makes the 2027 World Cup an obvious point of discussion as he enters the final stage of his career.
There is also another factor. Virat Kohli, who is also Rohit’s long-time India team colleague, has been subject to similar questions about his future. Both players will be much older by the time the 2027 World Cup comes around.
Former India pacer Ashish Nehra said recently that it's still too early to say if Rohit and Kohli will both make it to a fourth consecutive World Cup together. India's team is changing and selection will depend on performances and the team's requirements.
At the same time, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla has said that Rohit and Kohli still have a lot of cricket left in them to play, but the final decision will be up to the selectors to decide.
So while Rohit's place at the 2027 World Cup is not guaranteed, retirement does not seem to be an immediate decision.
For now, Rohit and the BCCI’s message is fairly the same: performances will matter more than speculation. If the 39-year-old continues to score runs and remains fit, the possibility of seeing him in India colours at the 2027 World Cup remains open.
