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"Rohit Sharma Can Play Till 45": Yograj Singh Wants Indian Skipper To Focus On Fitness

Rajgeeta Yadav

Yograj Singh wants Rohit Sharma to play for five more years [Source: AFP and @mufaddal_vohra/X]Yograj Singh wants Rohit Sharma to play for five more years [Source: AFP and @mufaddal_vohra/X]

Former India cricketer Yograj Singh has showered praise on India’s ODI captain, Rohit Sharma, while also taking a dig at his critics. Yograj believes Rohit still has plenty to give and should continue playing for five more years.

Rohit, who is now 38, has already retired from T20 internationals after leading India to the 2024 T20 World Cup win and from Test cricket earlier this year. That leaves him playing only ODIs, where he is both captain and opening batter. 

His last game for India was the Champions Trophy final in March 2025, which India won against New Zealand. Since then, he has only featured in the IPL for Mumbai Indians and is now preparing to return for India in the upcoming ODI series against Australia in October.

Yograj Singh Defends Rohit Sharma

Ahead of this comeback, Yograj Singh said India still needs Rohit’s experience and batting brilliance. According to him, Rohit’s class and skill set him apart from the rest.

Yograj also had some advice for the skipper. Speaking to News18, he said:

"The man about whom so many people speak rubbish, Rohit Sharma - I said that day that Rohit will be my man, the man, my man," Yograj said.

"The way he batted, his batting one side and the rest of the team's batting on the other side. His innings on one side and the rest of the world on the other. That's his class. You can say, 'Rohit, aapki hume 5 saal aur zarurat hai yaar' (Rohit, we need you for five more years, man) so please do more for your country, work on your fitness and everything. Put four men on him, make him run 10 kilometres every morning. He has the class to play till 45 years of age, if he wants."

So far, Rohit has had a brilliant ODI career, scoring 11,168 runs in 272 matches at an average of nearly 49, with 32 centuries and a record-breaking highest score of 264. Alongside him, Virat Kohli has also given up T20Is and Tests, and like Rohit, now only plays ODIs. Virat has made over 14,000 ODI runs, averaging almost 58, with 51 centuries to his name.

Both Rohit and Virat are expected to return in the upcoming ODI series against Australia. Their performances could play a big role in deciding whether they will lead India into the 2027 ODI World Cup in Africa.