'Rohit Sharma Will Play 2027 World Cup': Hitman's Coach Dismisses Retirement Rumours
Rohit Sharma's coach provides clarity on his ODI future [Source: @kadaipaneeeer/x.com]
Dinesh Lad, the renowned coach who shaped Rohit Sharma’s career from the grassroots level, has delivered a clear message regarding the India captain's ODI future, putting an end to rumours. Speculation about the 36-year-old's retirement from all formats has gained momentum, especially after his recent farewell to T20 Internationals.
Rohit Sharma’s Coach Shuts Down Retirement Rumours
However, Lad has brushed off these whispers, assuring fans that Rohit Sharma will continue to don the blue jersey until the 2027 ODI World Cup.
“The kind of cricket he is playing is unbelievable,” Lad told Dainik Jagran.
With a tone of assurance, Lad dismissed the online rumours predicting Rohit’s imminent departure from the cricketing scene.
"I am 100 percent certain that Rohit Sharma will play in the 2027 One Day World Cup," he said confidently.
As Rohit continues to show immense skill and dedication, his focus on ODI cricket remains sharp. Lad’s words seem to suggest that the seasoned batter has no intention of bowing out until he’s had another shot at World Cup glory.
One Last Test Hurrah For Rohit Sharma?
Despite Lad’s optimism about Rohit’s ODI prospects, he did hint that Test retirement could be on the cards sooner rather than later.
"As he’s getting older, it seems like he could retire from Test cricket," Lad admitted, adding that such a decision would likely be a strategic move to keep himself in peak condition for the 50-over format.
Rohit’s love for the longer format remains undiminished, but with his sights set on ODI glory, the India opener might be looking to ease his workload.
For fans who’ve marvelled at his elegant play in whites, it could mean one last hurrah in the current ICC World Test Championship cycle, potentially culminating in a high-stakes finale.
ODI World Cup: Rohit Sharma's Unfinished Business
For Rohit, the ODI World Cup has always been the one that got away. Debuting in 2007, he narrowly missed out on India’s 2011 World Cup victory but has been a fixture in every edition since.
Last year, he led India to the World Cup 2023 final, joining an elite list of Indian captains, yet fell short against Australia. That unfinished chapter appears to be driving him as he looks toward the World Cup 2027, a tournament where he’ll be aiming to lay his hands on the trophy he has long coveted.