BCCI dismisses retirement rumours: Lord’s ODI won’t be Rohit Sharma’s last

New Delhi: The final ODI against England at Lord's on Sunday will not be Rohit Sharma’s last appearance for India, despite circulating speculation, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed to the Press Trust of India in an exclusive interview.

Rumours had intensified, suggesting that the 39-year-old former captain had been informed by national selectors that they intended to move on and provide Yashasvi Jaiswal with an extended run in the side. However, Saikia clarified that the veteran batter—often referred to as the 'Hit-Man'—remains firmly in the team's plans.

"There are lot of speculations going on in media about Rohit Sharma's future. I want to firmly assert that there has been no such discussion that Rohit will be playing his last match at Lord's on Sunday," Saikia stated.

"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, Lord's ODI won't be his last match," the BCCI secretary confirmed.

It is understood that the BCCI leadership was dissatisfied with how chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir had approached the matter. The secretary issued the formal clarification following a day of deliberations involving all relevant stakeholders. It is noted that an influential former BCCI official assisted Saikia, a prominent legal figure, in resolving the contentious issue.

Reports indicate that Sharma was deeply unhappy at being informed of a potential selection decision ahead of a significant fixture and had expressed his dissatisfaction regarding the treatment of a senior player.

Sharma currently sits 13 matches away from joining the "Exclusive 300 ODI" club. Throughout his recent conversations with PTI, the white-ball great has consistently maintained that he is focused on representing India at the 2027 marquee event, aiming to secure silverware after the disappointment of the 2023 campaign.

PTI