New Delhi: Rohit Sharma, the former Indian cricket team captain known as the ‘Hitman,’ is currently the subject of speculation regarding a potential break or end to his career. There is talk that he might soon retire from the ODI format at the international level, though the exact timeline for such a move remains unclear.
He has already announced his retirement from international T20 and Test formats. While the BCCI has attempted to quell rumours regarding his retirement, a question persists following the board’s latest statement: Is Rohit Sharma part of India’s plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup?
A major claim is made in a report
A report claimed that the explosive batsman Rohit Sharma is not part of the ODI team’s plans, sparking speculation that the match played at Lord’s could be the last of his career. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia categorically dismissed these claims, stating there are no plans to designate the Lord’s match as Rohit’s final game.
He further added that Rohit would continue to play for India as long as he remains part of the team’s plans. Overall, Saikia’s statement appears to support Rohit Sharma; however, he did not explicitly state that Rohit would play in the next ODI series.
Furthermore, he did not confirm Rohit’s spot in the 2027 World Cup squad or affirm his status as India’s first-choice opener. The BCCI merely clarified that Rohit Sharma has not been given a farewell, without specifying what his next step might be.
What does “scheme of things” mean?
Did you know that the phrase “scheme of things” is nothing new in Indian cricket? It is often used when there is a desire to avoid giving a direct answer regarding a senior player’s future. Essentially, it implies that while the player has not been officially dropped, there is no guarantee regarding their prospects. The door to selection remains open, but who walks through it depends entirely on the selectors. After being dropped from the Test team in 2022, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were advised to score runs in domestic cricket. Both did make a comeback, but it was short-lived.
Pujara was dropped again after playing in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Rahane batted brilliantly in the WTC final and even served as vice-captain, yet he was dropped from the team shortly thereafter. The situation with Shikhar Dhawan was even more understated; there was no farewell and no formal announcement. Selection simply stopped, and his Indian career came to a complete halt right there.
There was also constant talk regarding fast bowler Mohammed Shami’s fitness and potential return, yet he could not immediately secure a spot in the Indian team. All these examples demonstrate that being part of the plans and actually getting selected for the team are two very different things. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma is not only a senior player but is also considered one of the most successful ODI captains, having amassed a huge number of runs with the bat.
