Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has weighed in on the retirement speculation surrounding Rohit Sharma, suggesting that the rumours may not have been entirely baseless despite the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) dismissing them.
The debate over Rohit’s future intensified during India’s recently concluded ODI series against England after the veteran opener endured a poor start, registering back-to-back low scores. Media reports even claimed that the series-deciding match at Lord’s could be Rohit’s final ODI appearance and that he was no longer part of the selectors’ plans for the upcoming ICC World Cup.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
However, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia swiftly rejected the reports, confirming that Rohit would continue to represent India beyond the England series. The 38-year-old batter responded in emphatic fashion, silencing critics with a magnificent 138-run knock in the series decider at Lord’s.
Despite Rohit’s match-winning performance, Ashwin believes there was more to the retirement speculation than mere rumours.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, the former off-spinner said Rohit’s century had temporarily put the issue to rest but hinted that the discussions did not emerge without reason.
“People called it outside noise, but I don’t see it that way. There is a Tamil saying, ‘There is no smoke without fire.’ There was fire, but Rohit answered it with his bat. I don’t think he has any doubts about playing in the 2027 World Cup,” Ashwin said.
Ashwin also stressed that Rohit’s place in India’s World Cup plans would largely depend on his physical condition rather than his batting ability.
According to the former spinner, Rohit appeared to be regaining top form after returning from injury and looked capable of producing even bigger performances.
“I feel this is Rohit’s road back after injury. Had he been a little fitter or more confident, he could have gone on to score 180 and single-handedly win the match. He looked in outstanding touch,” Ashwin remarked.
Ashwin further pointed out that players of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s stature cannot be sidelined easily, given their immense contributions to Indian cricket and the support they command among fans.
He noted that Rohit’s tally of nearly 12,000 international runs and Virat Kohli’s remarkable career achievements make them indispensable as long as they remain willing to represent the country.
“They cannot simply remove Virat or Rohit if they want to keep playing. Their credentials speak for themselves. Rohit has close to 12,000 runs, and both players have an enormous fan following. Any decision to drop them would create massive backlash,” Ashwin said.
With Rohit’s commanding century ending immediate retirement talk, attention is now expected to shift towards his fitness and consistency as India begins preparations for next year’s ICC World Cup.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
