Table of Contents
As per the report from The Indian Express, Rohit Sharma is set to play his final ODI game on Sunday at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, London. After that, there have been several reports that have been reported about the possible retirement of Rohit Sharma from the 50-over format of the game.
Rohit Sharma is reportedly not happy with the way the selectors are planning to move ahead with the opener, as he still wants to continue playing the ODI format. He has been one of the greatest white-ball openers for India over the years. In this article, we find out the five reasons why Rohit Sharma shouldn't be dropped from India's ODI squad. Before that check out, 7 reasons dropping Rohit Sharma from India's ODI squad makes sense.
1. Rohit Sharma remains one of India's biggest match-winners in ODI cricket
The former India captain has won matches for India single-handedly in ODI cricket. He changed the dynamics of fearless cricket and gave India a fast start across games in ODIs and T20Is. During this process, he took charge of the team and took on the bowlers from the very first ball.
Before taking the leadership role, everyone in the cricketing fraternity knew that the 39-year-old opener used to take his time to settle in the crease and then charge onto the bowlers and used to score 'Daddy Hundreds' in ODI cricket.
He is the only batter to score three double centuries in this format and also holds the record for the highest individual score in this format. Rohit scored 264* back in 2014 against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens.
Rohit Gurunath Sharma has a fine record while opening the innings for India since 2013. He has been ranked as the 7th highest run-getter in the 50-over format with 11757 runs. He holds the record for the most runs as an opener for India across all formats (Tests, ODIs, and T20Is) with 16,137 runs, with 9,727* runs coming in as an ODI opener.
2. Rohit Sharma's leadership experience will help Shubman Gill, India can't replace his experience overnight
Rohit has led the India side well during his captaincy tenure, especially in ODIs; he led the Men in Blue to the final of the ODI World Cup 2023 without losing a single game till the final against Australia. He has led India in 56 matches, winning 42 and losing just 12, with one ending in a tie and another being a no-result.
His leadership experience has been helpful and will also be helpful for India’s present ODI captain Shubman Gill, who took over the captaincy after Rohit won the ICC Champions Trophy. As Gill is young and bound to make mistakes, Rohit could help the current captain and share his experience in the coming years, and it will not be done in one month or so; it will take time.
For example, when Kohli took over the captaincy from MS Dhoni, Dhoni was seen guiding Virat in the white-ball formats and also played several years under Kohli's captaincy, which helped the former develop as a fine leader for India. The transition of experience did not happen in one night; it took several years to make Virat a good ODI captain. Similarly, Rohit should stay, keeping in mind the overseas and ICC events.
3. Yashasvi Jaiswal is still not ready
Yashasvi Jaiswal has been impressive whenever given a chance in the ODIs. The Southpaw has scored runs in this format and is demanding a place in the ODI squad as well. He made his debut against England last year but played just one game. After that, he played in the South Africa series when Gill was injured; however, in three matches scored one hundred.
Against Afghanistan, he played two matches in which he scored a hundred; again, he was dropped as Virat Kohli returned for the England ODI series. The Southpaw's fearless attitude has caught the selectors' attention, and also the fans, but ODI cricket presents a completely different challenge.
Despite Jaiswal being the front-runner to replace Rohit Sharma, the BCCI should continue to let him get the feel of the 50-over format rather than forcing him into one of the most important positions in the team simply because there is a vacancy and he has performed for three matches.
4. Dropping Rohit Sharma now could disrupt India's team environment
For a senior player like Rohit, the current India team dressing room respects and has huge admiration for the former India captain. He has been a team leader with an approachable leadership style on and off the field, and his ability to absorb pressure has played a significant role in India achieving many successes in the past.
If the transition happens automatically, it does not affect the team's environment, but like now, with the selectors forcing Rohit out of the team would hurt the side with just 15 months away from the ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Senior players will also be insecure after having a poor series and fear that they will not be backed, as Rohit is currently having one.
5. Rohit Sharma's fitness improvement shows he's ready for the 2027 World Cup
Rohit Sharma, who had fitness issues a few years back, has worked on his fitness post the 2025 Champions Trophy triumph. He underwent a remarkable fitness transformation, reportedly shedding around 11 to 20 kilograms, dropping from approximately 95 kg to 75 kg, which showcased his amazing determination and hard work to play the game.
Rohit Sharma's weight loss was achieved through a rigorous three-month regimen involving intense high-rep gym workouts and strict dietary changes. After the weight loss, several former cricketers and experts praised him. Rohit did this just to play the ODI World Cup 2027 and keep himself fit till the tournament.
Despite having a hamstring injury during the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL), he recovered quickly in the Centre of Excellence (CoE) and was declared fully fit to play the Afghanistan series and also the England series. After losing weight, the 39-year-old has been impressive and sharp in the field as well, which showcases his vision to play the upcoming ICC event.
