Former India captain Chris Srikkanth has urged selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar to speak openly about Rohit Sharma’s future. Srikkanth said that the team management should be clear about the 39-year-old veteran batsman’s future in international cricket to avoid ongoing speculation in the media.
India will take on England in the third and final ODI at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Sunday, July 19. There is speculation about the opener’s retirement after his explosive innings of 26 runs in 47 balls in the second ODI in Cardiff. Reports have claimed that the selectors are considering giving Yashasvi Jaiswal an extended chance.
Rohit Sharma should be selected for the World Cup – Kris Srikkanth
Chris Srikkanth, while talking on his official YouTube channel, said that the team management should end the uncertainty regarding the future of Rohit Sharma. However, he said that performance should be the only selection criteria regardless of the age of the batsman.
Srikkanth said, “The management might have told him that if he doesn’t retire they have the option of dropping him. But when such contrary reports come in day after day, how does a player’s confidence increase? If it is true, then come out and tell him clearly. Let him know where he stands. After that, he can take his own decision. Whether he wants to continue or not is his choice.”
He said, “The decision has to be taken now, because only then Jaiswal or someone else can join the team before the 2027 World Cup. But it will be interesting to see whether the management changes its decision if Rohit scores 75 runs in the Lord’s match. Even at this age, if he continues to perform, he should be selected for the World Cup.”
Something has gone mentally wrong with Rohit Sharma – Chris Srikkanth
Chris Srikkanth expressed concern over Rohit Sharma’s lack of flow and rhythm during the second ODI. The former India opener said that external factors or off-field discussions might have affected the mindset of the veteran batsman.
Srikkanth said, “It is clear that something has gone wrong mentally with Rohit based on yesterday’s innings. It was not his kind of batting at all. Something must have happened before the match. It was disappointing to see the way Rohit batted.”
He said, “It was a very poor innings and he looked completely out of shape. I don’t remember seeing such an innings from Rohit in white-ball cricket and it was very surprising. I don’t know what was troubling him, but he was not getting his timing right and he was not understanding anything.”
Devjit Saikia breaks silence on rumors about Rohit Sharma’s future after retirement
The pressure on Rohit Sharma has increased after two poor performances in England. He has scored only 37 runs in two matches at a strike rate of less than 55. Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal has scored 285 runs at an average of 71.25, including an unbeaten 110 off 86 balls against Afghanistan in Chennai.
However, BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia dismisses retirement rumours.. He said Rohit remains part of India’s ODI plans and dismissed reports claiming that the third ODI at Lord’s would be his final international match.
Rohit retired from T20Is after the 2026 T20 World Cup final and played his last Test during the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. After not being included in India’s 2011 World Cup-winning team and finishing runners-up in 2023, the former Indian captain is still aiming to win his first ODI World Cup title in 2027.
