Rohit Sharma’s parents, Gurunath and Purnima Sharma, have reportedly arrived in London to watch what could be an emotional match at Lord’s. Neither Rohit nor the BCCI has officially confirmed any retirement from ODI cricket.
Selectors looking ahead
According to reports, the BCCI’s senior selection committee has told Rohit he is not part of India’s long-term ODI plans after the England series, with the focus on building a team for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Rohit is said to have known already and arranged for his family to be at Lord’s.
The selectors and head coach Gautam Gambhir are believed to want to give younger players, Yashasvi Jaiswal among them, a longer run in the 50-over game. Rohit had reportedly said he wished to keep playing and worked hard on fitness in the off-season.
Recent form
His recent returns may have played a part. The 39-year-old made 11 in the first ODI at Edgbaston and 26 off 47 balls in Cardiff. Across his last eight ODI innings he has 241 runs at 30.1, with one half-century.
The series stands at 1-1. India won at Edgbaston by six wickets and England replied with a four-wicket win in Cardiff. The decider is at Lord’s on July 19.
Career context
Rohit has already retired from two formats. He quit T20Is on June 29, 2024, soon after captaining India to the T20 World Cup, and announced his Test retirement on May 7, 2025. If the reports are right, an ODI exit would end his international career in all three formats.
For now his future is uncertain, but if he plays at Lord’s on Sunday it could be a landmark moment.
