New Delhi: The third ODI between India and England at Lord’s on Sunday could be Rohit Sharma’s last international appearance. The national selection committee is not expected to pick the player for matches beyond the current series in the UK.
In his last eight ODIs, Sharma has scored 241 runs at an average of 30.1 and a strike rate of 88.6, with one half-century.
Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar is touring with the team in Cardiff. The panel does not plan to include the 39-year-old in the 2027 ODI World Cup squad. They want to give more opportunities to Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored two centuries in three innings. There are around 20 matches ahead, and Jaiswal needs that exposure.
A senior BCCI source said selectors cannot force retirement but will look ahead to the home series against West Indies in September. Sharma’s future remains his own decision.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir and Agarkar agree that Virat Kohli is a certain selection due to his form and fitness, but not Sharma.
If Sharma is kept beyond England, Jaiswal would lose valuable game time. The selection committee and Sharma had differed on the timing of his Test retirement.
