Rohit Sharma’s future in India’s ODI team remains secure for now, with the BCCI making it clear that there is no imminent move to push the former captain into retirement.
The development came after a review meeting at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai on Thursday, September 3, where his 2027 ODI World Cup prospects were among the major talking points.
At 39, Rohit remains under intense scrutiny because he will turn 40 during the 2027 World Cup, but his recent performances have strengthened his case to continue.
BCCI dismisses speculation
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia firmly rejected speculation that Rohit Sharma’s place in the ODI squad is under immediate threat.
“He is playing superbly in all the matches. So what more do you want? In the last match, he scored 138 runs. So why is there speculation? For now, I don’t want to give any fodder to the speculators,” Saikia told reporters after the review meeting.
Saikia also denied that Rohit’s position in the ODI team was discussed during the meeting.
“No, no. We have basically thought about what should be our way forward in terms of team preparation and all, because we have a lot of series coming up,” he said.
The comments effectively put the retirement rumours to rest for the time being and reinforce the BCCI’s earlier position that Rohit remains part of India’s plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
India’s packed schedule ahead
Saikia explained that the board’s focus was on preparing the Indian team for a busy period rather than making a selection decision on Rohit.
India have the Afghanistan series coming up immediately, followed by the West Indies ODI series and T20Is. A crucial series against New Zealand will then follow, with another series, most probably against Zimbabwe, also expected before the five-Test series against Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The review meeting was described as a routine exercise held after an interval of around three months. Saikia said the discussions focused on India’s performances in England and Ireland as well as the team’s roadmap for the next year.
“We basically discussed how our team performed in England and Ireland, basically, and also what we are going to do in the next one year. So, the roadmap has been prepared, and we’ll be doing some exercises so that we have a very good performance in 2027,” he said.
Reports suggested Rohit set to retire
Speculation around Rohit’s international future intensified after India’s tour of England.
Reports had claimed that selectors were not keen on carrying Rohit into the 2027 World Cup and that the third ODI at Lord’s on July 19 could be his final international appearance. The BCCI subsequently stepped in to make clear that the veteran batter remained part of its World Cup plans.
Rohit had scored a brilliant 138 in that Lord’s ODI while chasing England’s target of 388, although India lost the match and surrendered the series 2-1.
Even before the BCCI’s latest meeting, Saikia had rejected suggestions that the Lord’s game would be Rohit’s farewell ODI.
“Rohit is a regular member of the Indian ODI team, and he will continue to represent the country as long as he is in the scheme of things. In other words, the Lord’s ODI won’t be his last match,” Saikia had said on July 17.
What happened at BCCI review meeting?
The September 3 meeting included Saikia, head coach Gautam Gambhir, ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill, T20I captain Shreyas Iyer and VVS Laxman, who heads the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence.
BCCI president Mithun Manhas was also present. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar, however, was a notable absentee and did not attend the meeting virtually either.
Saikia clarified that there was no selection meeting on the day. Instead, the board held a broader review involving the head coach, head of cricket, Centre of Excellence and the two captains.
The discussions covered India’s recent performances, the team’s preparation and the roadmap leading towards the 2027 ODI World Cup.
The board also discussed frequent player injuries and measures being considered to reduce their impact on the team.
VVS Laxman not being considered for director
Another issue surrounding the Indian team set-up was the possibility of VVS Laxman taking on a new role as director of cricket.
Saikia dismissed the reports, saying there had been no discussion about creating such a position and that the BCCI had no intention of making the move.
“I do not comment on new rumours. We have not had any such discussion, nor do we have any such intention,” Saikia said.
Laxman will nevertheless remain involved with the Indian team. He is expected to be with India as head coach during the Asian Games.
Retirement rumours intensified after England tour
The speculation over Rohit’s retirement began to grow before the third and final ODI against England at Lord’s.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri and others discussed the possibility of Rohit walking away from international cricket during the commentary. The 39-year-old responded in the strongest possible manner on the field, smashing 138 runs in an unsuccessful chase.
Rohit had already retired from Test and T20I cricket, meaning an ODI retirement would bring an end to his international career altogether.
A PTI report before the BCCI meeting claimed that Rohit had been told by a member of the selection committee, although not chief selector Agarkar, that the selectors had decided to move on from him. According to the report, Rohit was angry but had agreed to retire.
Another report claimed that the matter had been discussed after India’s England tour and that people close to Rohit had remained silent about his future.
Rohit himself has previously appeared unfazed by the noise surrounding his career.
“If there’s no noise, there’s no fun. My job is inside; their job is outside. That’s how I look at it,” he said.
Saikia, meanwhile, continued to point to Rohit’s performances as the strongest argument against retirement speculation. While the secretary referred to his latest score as 138 in one account, another report quoted him as saying Rohit had scored “130-140 runs” in his last match.
Rohit’s 2027 World Cup dream remains alive
Rohit is 39 and has been part of Indian cricket since his international debut in 2007. By the time the 2027 ODI World Cup arrives, he will be 40.
Despite his age, the BCCI does not appear ready to close the door on his World Cup ambitions. The selectors will continue to assess the best combination for the tournament while also looking at alternatives and building squad depth.
Yashasvi Jaiswal is among the players being viewed as a potential long-term alternative. However, Jaiswal still needs to establish himself in ODI cricket after securing his place in India’s Test side.
For now, Rohit’s record at the top of India’s ODI order remains difficult to replace, with the team yet to find a direct successor capable of matching his experience and impact.
His next ODI appearance is expected to come against the West Indies on September 27.
Rohit has already achieved considerable success in international cricket, including two Champions Trophy titles and two T20 World Cup triumphs.
He won each of those tournaments once as captain and once as a player. However, the ODI World Cup remains the major title missing from his collection.
Rohit was not part of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning squad. In 2023, he led India to the final on home soil but ended up on the losing side against Australia.
He also does not have a World Test Championship title despite appearing in two finals, once as a player and once as captain. With Rohit no longer playing Test cricket, another chance at the WTC title is no longer available.
That leaves the ODI World Cup as perhaps the biggest unfinished chapter of his career.
If Rohit can remain fit, continue producing runs and make India’s 2027 squad, winning the tournament at the age of 40 could provide the dream farewell for one of the country’s most accomplished white-ball batters.
Big names set to miss West Indies ODI series
India’s squad for the ODI series against the West Indies, beginning September 27, has yet to be announced.
The selectors could be forced into changes because several ODI players are also part of Shreyas Iyer’s T20I squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.
Iyer, Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ishan Kishan, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel are all part of the T20I squad for the Asian Games.
The situation could therefore provide opportunities for other players while the selectors continue shaping India’s squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
