Veteran Team India batter Rohit Sharma is set to continue as the side’s skipper in ODI and Test formats. The legendary opener combined nicely with teammates to secure India’s second ICC title in as many years at the Champions Trophy 2025.
Sharma Eyes Three ICC Titles as Captain?
Some fan theories suggest Rohit Sharma is delaying his retirement to get a chance at leading India to the 2027 ODI World Cup. Sharma recently made history with back-to-back ICC trophies as Team India captain. He teamed up with former skipper Virat Kohli to deliver the T20 World Cup 2024 before the Men in Blue’s recent triumph.
Rohit to Continue as India Test Captain
An unnamed source within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that Sharma remains India’s Test captain. The anonymous source shared these details ahead of India’s upcoming Test calendar:
“Technically, Rohit remains the Test captain. He voluntarily benched himself from the last Test in Sydney where he explained that a team can’t carry on with multiple out of form batters. After Australia Tests, India haven’t played any Tests and hence there has been no change in Test captaincy. Also, Rohit never said he doesn’t want to play Tests,” the source said.
India will face England in a Test series as the first game on their calendar. The unnamed source also shared details on how the BCCI selectors plan to pick players ahead of India’s upcoming series:
“The selection committee gets a break during IPL. Obviously with all matches televised, they always don’t need to travel unless they have some specific strategy or they want to watch a particular player from up close,” the unnamed source shared, hinting at the selectors’ potential plans.
“So once IPL starts, the blueprint for England series will be drawn at some point. But (head coach) Gautam Gambhir’s view point will have a lot of weightage,” the insider concluded.
Will Rohit Sharma Return to T20Is?
Rohit Sharma is less likely to return to twenty-over international cricket. The talismanic opener promptly retired from this limited-overs format after lifting the T20 World Cup 2024. Virat Kohli also left the format on the same day as Sharma.
Are Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Planning to Retire Together?
Fans can’t tell if India’s dynamic duo will leave all formats of international cricket on the same day. Their approach to retirement after the 2024 T20 World Cup leaves some fans to suggest this might be a possibility.
Will the Rohit Sharma Champions Trophy Win Extend His International Career Past 2027?
Sharma’s recent triumph sparked differing opinions with some posts claiming he could stay on after the 2027 ODI World Cup. However, reports suggesting such details remain unconfirmed.
Rohit’s international career was in tatters immediately after he secured India’s second T20 World Cup title. The cricketer led India to an embarrassing defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Australia.
That crushing 3-1 series defeat Down Under saw a barrage of comments targeted at Sharma. There were rumours the cricketer was considering retirement before playing at the Champions Trophy.
Will Rohit Sharma and India Win the ODI World Cup 2027?
Sharma makes his thoughts clear as fans are eager to know when he’s retiring:
“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. Realistically, I have always taken my career one step at a time,” Rohit said during a recent Jio Hotstar interview.
Navjot Singh Sidhu Speaks on Rohit Sharma’s Future in International Cricket
Former Team India cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu expressed his support for Sharma regarding the latter’s immediate future as an international. Rohit has smashed several impressive records throughout his international career across formats. Sidhu believes Sharma’s achievements should be enough to allow him decide his future as a national team player:
“Rohit Sharma will be the captain and he only should be the captain. Should Rohit Sharma climb the bamboo? What more should he do? Will you test someone like this who has won you two ICC trophies?”
Sharma’s experience ideal to create ‘a good team’ in 2027 – Navjot Singh
Sidhu sought to affirm Sharma’s role as a skipper and leading figure within India’s cricket circuit ahead of 2027:
“Till the 2027 World Cup, you will have to make a mix of the experience of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and the exuberance of someone like Nitish Reddy, Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav. Until you do not make this mix, you cannot select a good team,” Navjot added.
