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Rohit Sharma Asked To Retire After Champions Trophy? Manjrekar On Hitman's Future

Soumyajit Dutta

Rohit Sharma and Sanjay Manjrekar [Source: @sanjaymanjrekar/X.com]Rohit Sharma and Sanjay Manjrekar [Source: @sanjaymanjrekar/X.com]

Rohit Sharma has been in the game for about 18 years now and after hanging up his boots from the T20 format back in 2024, rumours about the skipper's ODI format farewell are also soaring high. Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has speculated that the 2025 Champions Trophy might mark Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s final appearance in an ICC tournament. 

At 37, Sharma remains a dominant force in ODIs, underscored by his 11,000 ODI runs and brisk 41 off 36 balls in India’s opening victory against Bangladesh on February 20. With India failing to qualify for the 2025 World Test Championship final and Sharma having retired from T20Is, the next ICC event for the veteran batter could potentially be the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Manjrekar's Thoughts On Rohit's Retirement

However, by the time the 2027 ODI World Cup commences, Sharma will be 40, raising questions about his longevity in the sport. Reflecting on these factors, Manjrekar shared his thoughts about 'Mumbai ka Raja' with ESPNcricinfo.

“I have a feeling (that) if he has decided, I mean can Rohit Sharma be there for the 2027 Cricket World Cup? I don’t think so, very unlikely. So, then, this could be, what you are suggesting, could be the final tournament. I’m expecting Rohit Sharma to go out there and he should be actually liberated not so much by this being his sort of swansong or whatever, just by the fact that so much of quality batting to come (from him).”

Rohit’s Leadership And Form In Focus

Rohit Sharma’s aggressive start against Bangladesh set the tone for India’s six-wicket triumph, propelling the team into a high-stakes clash against arch-rivals Pakistan in Dubai on February 23.

Manjrekar also emphasized how Sharma’s selfless approach during the 2023 ODI World Cup elevated his stature among fans. Leading by example, the opener prioritised explosive starts over personal milestones, amassing 597 runs at a strike rate of 125.94, the second-highest tally in the tournament.

“2023 World Cup (in India) Rohit Sharma’s popularity soared. What they loved about Rohit Sharma is that they saw the captain was selfless, went out there… (he) could have got a hundred but (instead) gave a great flying start to the team and made things easier for the players coming after him,” Manjrekar remarked.

Despite Sharma’s heroics, India’s dream of lifting the trophy was dashed by Australia in the final, ending an otherwise flawless campaign. As speculation around his future builds, all eyes remain on the Indian skipper’s performances in the ongoing Champions Trophy and whether he can make the 2017 dream a reality.