The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has dismissed speculation surrounding Rohit Sharma’s retirement from One-Day Internationals, confirming that the veteran opener will continue to be a part of India’s ODI plans. The clarification came after reports suggested that the third ODI against England at Lord’s on Sunday would mark Rohit’s final international appearance.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia issued a strong statement on Friday, denying that any discussions had taken place regarding Rohit’s retirement. He said the India captain remains a regular member of the ODI squad and will continue representing the country as long as he remains in the team’s plans.
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“There are a lot of speculations going on in the media about Rohit Sharma’s future. I want to firmly assert that there has been no such discussion that Rohit will be playing his last match at Lord’s on Sunday. Rohit is a regular member of the Indian ODI team and he will continue to represent the country as long as he is in the scheme of things,” Saikia said.
The statement comes in response to reports published on Thursday claiming that the national selectors had informed Rohit he was no longer part of India’s long-term ODI plans after the England tour. The reports also suggested that the selectors were preparing to give more opportunities to young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has impressed in limited appearances.
According to the reports, Rohit had expressed a desire to continue playing after working on his fitness and reportedly held discussions with BCCI officials following the selectors’ decision. The speculation intensified after Rohit’s parents were spotted arriving in London ahead of the final ODI.
However, the BCCI has now put an end to the rumours by making it clear that the Lord’s ODI will not be Rohit’s farewell match. The experienced opener remains firmly in India’s ODI setup, with no official decision taken regarding his international future.
