Rohit Sharma’s retirement speculation was not just outside noise, suggests R Ashwin

Former India spinner R Ashwin has hinted that there was more to the reports that claimed Rohit Sharma had fallen out of favor with the selectors ahead of the third and final ODI of India’s tour of England. Rohit smashed 138 off 110 balls to become the first Indian batsman to score an ODI century at Lord’s, though he lost as India failed to chase down 388 in the series decider.

Ahead of the third ODI at Lord’s, reports were rife that it would be Sharma’s last game, with the opener reportedly informed ahead of the series. It was also alleged that Sharma pushed back against chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and head coach Virat Kohli.

NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE: ASHWIN

However, the rumors came to nothing two days before the ODI when Indian cricket board secretary Devajit Saikia put an end to the speculation and declared that Lord’s ODI will not be Rohit Sharma’s last in India colours. However, Ashwin believes that there could be no smoke without fire.

“You see when the news of Rohit Sharma’s potential retirement came out. Well, you call it external noise. I won’t call it that. In Tamil they say, ‘There is no smoke without fire’. There was fire but he scored. He showed that he can do it. I think there is no doubt that he can play the World Cup in 2027 on his YouTube channel,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Crediting Rohit for his batting hundred, Ashwin said the opener was battling not just outside noise but perhaps the effects of injury. Sharma was recently injured during the Indian Premier League 2026 season, which was ruled out for five matches.

Ashwin claimed that if Rohit was fully fit, he could have dominated England at Lord’s.

“I feel this is Rohit’s way to come back from injury. If he was in a bit better condition or more confident, he could have scored 180 and won the match for the team. I felt Rohit is in really good form,” Ashwin said.

WILL ROHIT-KOHLI PLAY WORLD CUP 2027?

The Indian team management is yet to confirm Rohit Sharma’s place, or for that matter Virat Kohli’s place in the ODI World Cup 2027. Kohli, who has been in great form, has almost claimed automatic selection. Rohit, on the other hand, has blown hot and cold since losing the ODI captaincy to Shubman Gill, but his century at Lord’s, India’s first in the format at the iconic venue, should help curb chatter about his future.

Ashwin claimed that as long as Rohit and Virat continue to score, it will be impossible for the selectors or the coach to leave them out.

“They can’t touch Virat and Rohit if they want to play. It’s because of their credentials. Rohit has scored almost 12,000 runs; they can’t touch him. The other thing is that they are batsmen and if you touch them, they have an army. People come to watch them. When you let them go, it just breaks the roof,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

India will play their next ODI series against West Indies at home. The three-game series is set to begin on September 27.

– The end

Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

21 Jul 2026 21:38 IST