After winning the Champions Trophy, Rohit Sharma’s first job was to clear up the retirement rumors. People talked about it even before the team reached Dubai for the tournament.
“One more thing. I’m not going to retire from this format, just to make sure that no rumours are spread moving forward,” he said.
“Right now, I am taking things as they come. It wouldn’t be fair for me to think too far ahead. At this moment, my focus is on playing well and maintaining the right mindset. I don’t want to draw any lines and say whether I will or won’t play in the 2027 World Cup. There’s no point in making such statements right now,” he told the official broadcaster.
“Realistically, I have always taken my career one step at a time. I don’t like thinking too far into the future, and I haven’t done so in the past either. For now, I am enjoying my cricket and the time I spend with this team. I hope my teammates enjoy my presence as well. That’s all that matters at this point.” he said.
The 37-year-old hasn’t set a clear deadline for his career but has left the door open for the 2027 ODI World Cup. The report suggests that he is already aiming for that tournament in South Africa, with India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar playing a key role in shaping his plan.
As per a report in Cricbuzz, Rohit Sharma plans to continue playing ODIs until the 2027 World Cup. He hopes to win a third ICC trophy as captain before ending his white-ball career. Rohit retired from T20Is in June last year after leading India to a T20 World Cup victory in Barbados.
Sources have confirmed that Rohit has come up with a plan to stay fit and competitive for the tournament in Africa. A key part of his plan will be his former Mumbai teammate, Nayar, who is expected to help him improve his fitness, batting, and overall approach.
“A key part of his plans is likely to be Nayar, who is regarded as a highly intelligent coach with modern techniques and styles. Many players in the Indian team, including KL Rahul, have either worked with him or are currently working with him. Rahul has credited Nayar on more than one occasion about the guidance he got from Nayar and continues to work with him. Rohit will team up with his former Mumbai teammate as part of his preparation,” the report said.
No decision has been made yet about his future in Test cricket. His recent performances in Tests haven’t been very impressive, which led him to make the surprising decision to drop himself from the playing XI for the Sydney Test during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, he still plans to continue playing in both Tests and ODIs. A lot will depend on how he performs in the upcoming IPL season.
The selectors haven’t made a decision yet. When asked about Rohit’s selection for the England series in June and July, a source close to the matter said, “Let’s wait for the IPL to finish first. Only an astrologer can predict that far ahead.”
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