Indian senior cricketer Rohit Sharma may have received a major boost with BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia publicly backing him and chief selector Ajit Agarkar reportedly set to leave his position. However, questions about Rohit’s long-term place in India’s ODI team have not completely disappeared.
Ajit Agarkar was reportedly in favour of India moving on from Rohit Sharma. With around 20 ODIs remaining before the 2027 World Cup, the former chief selector reportedly wanted Yashasvi Jaiswal to get enough opportunities to establish himself in the team. However, the BCCI appears to have taken a different approach. Rohit has already been included in India’s squad for the upcoming West Indies ODIs, while a new chief selector is expected to take charge.
Rohit Sharma also strengthened his case with a brilliant 138 at Lord’s, an innings that came when there was widespread speculation about whether he would retire. He has also maintained decent form during 2026. Despite this, some concerns remain within the selection setup.
According to a report, selectors had several reasons for initially considering a future without Rohit. One concern was that many of his recent big scores came on batting-friendly pitches rather than in difficult conditions.
Rohit Sharma’s last two centuries also came after India had already lost the respective series against Australia and England. However, the report did not suggest that those innings were of poor quality. Another major point was the development of Yashasvi Jaiswal. The selectors reportedly believe Yashasvi Jaiswal needs regular exposure before the 2027 World Cup instead of being brought into the team shortly before the tournament.
Rohit Sharma’s fitness has also reportedly been discussed by the selectors. The India batter is now 39 years old and he suffered a hamstring injury during the last IPL, which forced him to miss four consecutive matches.
A source cited in the report said selectors were viewing Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli differently because of their current physical levels, with Kohli facing comparatively less concern in this area. The report also questioned whether Rohit would be able to maintain his fitness and physical output until the 2027 ODI World Cup, which is still more than a year away. The selectors are reportedly concerned that if Rohit were to suffer an injury closer to the tournament, Yashasvi Jaiswal could enter the World Cup without enough international experience. The selectors therefore appear to believe that Yashasvi Jaiswal needs a proper bedding-in period well before the World Cup.
For now, Rohit Sharma remains part of India’s ODI plans. He will have another opportunity to answer the questions surrounding his fitness, consistency and ability to contribute at the highest level. His experience and performances over the coming months could be crucial to determining how the situation develops.
Will Rohit Sharma manage to play the 2027 ODI World Cup? What do you think?
