T20 World Cup 2024: Former Indian cricketer makes shocking prediction about Rohit Sharma's future; calls BCCI for massive change

Yograj Singh, a former Indian cricketer and father of the legendary all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, recently shared his views on the perception of age in cricket. He stressed that there should be an emphasis on fitness and performance over the age of individuals.

The former Indian pacer questioned the societal notion that once someone reaches their 40s, they are considered old and finished. The 66-year-old further cited the example of Mohinder Amarnath, who played a key role in India's ODI World Cup victory in 1983 when he was 38, as he stressed that age should not be a criteria to measure a player’s potential.

Rohit Sharma can play till he is 50: Yograj Singh

Yograj, who played one Test and six ODIs for India in 1980–81, believes that Indian skipper Rohit Sharma can continue representing the country until he is 50 since fitness and training have never been the dealbreakers for the senior opener.

Furthermore, the veteran Punjabi actor also called for the BCCI to remove the age factor entirely, as he felt players like Rohit Sharma and Virender Sehwag have shown that age is not a barrier to success if one maintains their form to deliver at the highest level.

He suggested that, with the right mindset and commitment, players could continue playing into their 40s or even beyond. Notably, Rohit is currently aged 37, and he will be 39 by the time the next World Cup arrives, which is the T20 World Cup in 2026. This tournament may likely be his final World Cup, but Yograj feels the Indian skipper can even play the next ODI World Cup in 2027.

Yograj Singh calls to scrape age criteria in cricket

Yograj Singh was quoted as saying by Sports18: “This talk about age, that someone is these many years old… I have never understood it. What is wrong if you are fit at 40, 42 or even 45, and if you are performing? In our country, people believe that once you're 40, you're old, it's time to have kids, you're done. The truth is that you are not finished. Mohinder Amarnath was 38 years old when he won India the World Cup (he was 33).

He was the Player of the Match in the final. So, I feel that in Indian cricket, the age factor should be scrapped once and for all. Rohit Sharma and Viru [Virender Sehwag] are two such great players who have never thought about fitness and training. If he does, he can play till he is 50.”

Notably, Rohit has played in a total of 11 World Cups, including eight T20 World Cups and three ODI World Cups, in his career so far. However, he won the coveted cup only once during his World Cup debut in 2007, when India won the T20 World Cup under MS Dhoni’s captaincy.

The right-handed will be leading the Men in Blue in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, starting on June 1 in the USA and Caribbean. India will kick off their campaign against Ireland on June 5.