Selectors unlikely to pick Rohit Sharma for ODIs after Lord's match against England
Cardiff, July 16
In a major development that could signal the end of an era in Indian cricket, senior opener and former captain Rohit Sharma is unlikely to be picked for ODIs following Sunday's match against England at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground.
According to a BCCI source aware of the development, the Ajit Agarkar-led national selection committee has decided to look past the veteran batter in the 50-over format, as they look to give more game time to young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal in preparation for the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup, to be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
"The selectors have decided that henceforth they will not select Rohit Sharma in ODIs. If he wants to bow out gracefully or chooses not to call it a day immediately, that is entirely his personal decision. However, the message is clear: the selectors will not pick him for ODIs after the game at Lord's on Sunday," said the BCCI source to IANS on Thursday.
The decision stems from growing concerns over the veteran batsman's recent form, which is evident from his scratchy knock of 26 against England in the second ODI at Sophia Gardens.
"The word going around is that Rohit hasn't been operating at his fluent best for some time. Meanwhile, someone like Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has scored well of late in ODIs, is forced to sit out. This stark contrast is what prompted the selectors to rethink their long-term strategy. As of now, it is becoming increasingly certain that Sunday's game at Lord's may well be Rohit's final appearance as an Indian cricket team player," added the BCCI source.
It is yet to be known if the selection committee had informed Rohit in advance about its decision to move on from him in ODIs after the trip to England ends on Sunday. Rohit has already retired from T20Is, shortly after leading India to the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup title. He is playing the 50-over format because he wants to represent the country in the 2027 ODI World Cup.
On May 7, 2025, Rohit quit Test cricket ahead of India's five-match tour of England and was shortly replaced by Shubman Gill as the ODI captain. In 286 ODI games, Rohit has amassed 11,731 runs and firmly established himself in Indian cricket folklore as one of the most explosive and dependable openers in the 50-over format.
He also led India with aplomb in 56 ODIs, including leading the side to the 2023 World Cup final with his all-out attacking approach and astute leadership. Rohit also captained India to the 2025 Men's Champions Trophy triumph in the UAE.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I'm from Australia and I've always admired how Indian cricket manages transitions. This is a tough call but a necessary one for the 2027 World Cup. Rohit's 26 at Cardiff wasn't terrible, but you could see the lack of fluency. Yashasvi Jaiswal has that spark—reminds me of a young Sehwag. Time to blood the next generation.
Honestly, I'm gutted. Rohit Sharma is one of the reasons I started watching cricket. His double centuries, that effortless pull shot... he's a legend. But I also see the BCCI's point: we have to plan ahead. What bothers me is the lack of communication—just dropping him after one match? That's not respectful to someone who led us to a Champions Trophy win mere months ago.
Sad to see this happen to a player of Rohit's calibre. As an England fan, I've always respected his game—he smashed us for 137 in 2019! But from a pure cricket perspective, Jaiswal has earned his chance. The selectors are right to think long term, but they could have handled this with more grace. A farewell series would have been appropriate.
Yeh selective amnesia hai, yaar! Rohit was India's best batsman in the last two ICC tournaments—scored 597 runs in the 2023 ODI World Cup as captain. And now they want to drop him after one scratchy 26? Jaiswal is talented, no doubt, but he hasn't done anything in ODIs yet. Give the legend a proper send-off. Respect should go both ways.
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