BCCI shuts down Rohit Sharma retirement rumours: Don't give fodder to speculation

Rohit Sharma's ODI future was expected to be discussed at the BCCI review meeting, but secretary Devajit Saikia dismissed retirement speculation, saying the former captain is playing superbly and remains an important option for India.Rohit Sharma is eyeing a spot in India's 2027 World Cup squad (Courtesy of BCCI)Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia urged against feeding speculation over Rohit Sharma's future, saying the former captain is "playing superbly" and making it clear that there is no immediate threat to his place in India's ODI squad."Rohit Sharma is playing superbly. No need to give fodder to speculation," Saikia said after the high-level review meeting of the Indian cricket board in Mumbai on Thursday, September 3.The meeting was attended by head coach Gautam Gambhir, ODI captain Shubman Gill, captain of the T20I side Shreyas Iyer, BCCI president Mithun Manhas and secretary Saikia. Interestingly, chief selector Ajit Agarkar, whose tenure is set to end in October this year, did not attend the meeting at the BCCI headquarters.Devajit Saikia's comments came at a time when speculation over Rohit's ODI future has once again intensified. Rohit, 39, has been followed by retirement rumours for several months, with questions over whether he will remain in India's ODI plans ahead of next year's 50-over World Cup. The issue had also been expected to come up during Thursday's review meeting, with reports suggesting that the former captain's future would be one of the key talking points.On the eve of the meeting, a PTI report claimed that a member of the selection committee, though not chief selector Agarkar, had informed Rohit that the panel had decided to move on from him in ODI cricket. "It has been widely speculated that Rohit was intimated by a member of the selection committee (not chairman) that the panel has decided to move on," the PTI report said, adding that Rohit had been asked whether he would call time on his career after the Lord's ODI during India's tour of England earlier this year.The report also said that while Rohit and people close to him maintained a stoic silence, there was speculation that the former captain, despite being angry, had agreed to the decision.The speculation had reached fever pitch during the England tour itself. Reports had suggested that the Lord's ODI could be Rohit's final appearance for India. Instead, he walked out at one of the most iconic venues in world cricket and responded in the manner he has often preferred: with the bat.Rohit scored a century at Lord's, albeit in a losing cause, to once again underline his ability to produce decisive performances when questions around his future are at their loudest.After that match, Rohit spoke to the BCCI about the constant noise surrounding his career and made it clear that he was not allowing speculation to dictate his approach."If there's no noise, there's no fun. My job is inside; their job is outside. That's how I look at it," Rohit said."The noise since I made my debut was there. And till the time I'm going to stay here, it's always going to be there. It doesn't really matter too much. What matters is what I do on the field. I want to try and contribute to the success of the team. That's all my focus is."WILL ROHIT PLAY 2027 ODI WORLD CUP?His comments have acquired added significance with Rohit now approaching the final phase of his career. He will turn 40 during the 2027 ODI World Cup year, making his age an unavoidable part of the discussion around India's long-term planning.For now, however, the BCCI appears to be backing the former captain rather than pushing him towards the exit.Saikia's comments after Thursday's meeting suggest that Rohit's performances remain the most important consideration for the board. The former India captain continues to be viewed as an experienced and proven option at the top of the order, particularly in a format in which his record speaks for itself.That does not mean the selectors will ignore succession planning. With the 2027 World Cup approaching, India will inevitably need to develop alternatives and ensure that they have sufficient depth in the opening department.Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has established himself as a Test regular but has not had the same volume of opportunities in ODIs, remains one of the obvious back-up options. The selectors are likely to continue assessing him and other contenders even while Rohit remains in the team.- EndsPublished By: Akshay RameshPublished On: Sep 3, 2026 17:35 IST