‘Age is just a number’: Former India chief selector Chetan Sharma backs Rohit Sharma to continue playing ODIs

MUMBAI: Over the last year or so, Rohit Sharma has gone into every series with growing speculation about his future. Current chief selector Ajit Agarkar’s exit – which will become official after October 4, the last date of his tenure – has once again turned the spotlight on the former Indian skipper. It is widely believed that Agarkar’s fallout with the BCCI over Rohit’s future could be the catalyst for the former India and Mumbai pacer not seeking an extension to his tenure. On September 3, after a review meeting at its headquarters in Mumbai, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia again sought to quell uncertainty over Rohit’s ODI future.Amid the raging debate on the issue, former India pacer and chief selector Chetan Sharma gave a thumbs up to the 39-year-old Rohit, who continues to wear the Indian ODI jersey.“I can understand people saying a hundred things. I was a cricketer too, so I respect and love them as cricketers. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are the ‘Kohinoors’ of Indian cricket. Age is just a number. If they are good, then why not (they can continue). I was a selector myself. Rohit recently scored every century in ODIs in the 19th century at Lord’srat, in England 138. he gets one, so what’s the problem, we want players who can win matches for us and both of them are capable of that,” Sharma told TOI on Monday.Sharma, the first bowler to take a hat-trick in ODI World Cup history (in 1987 against New Zealand in Nagpur), admitted that he was a big fan of the superstar batsmen. “I love watching them come and bat for India and win trophies for us. Rohit won us a trophy after so many years (when he captained India in their second T20 World Cup triumph and first in 17 years). We should be grateful. We shouldn’t listen to others,” Sharma stressed while speaking at an event in Mumbai.Asked specifically if he wanted Rohit and Kohli to play in the ODI World Cup next year, Sharma, who took 128 wickets in 23 Tests and 65 ODIs between 1984-94, said: “If they are fit, they get runs, then why not? I ask everyone that question.”With Agarkar apparently unwilling to continue at present due to differences in Rohit’s international future, how would Sharma, who was India’s chief selector from December 2020 to February 2023, handle the situation if he were in Agarkar’s place? “I won’t elaborate. When I was the chief selector, we made Rohit the captain. We trusted him, that’s why we made him the captain. Virat has always been an asset to Indian cricket. Like I said, if they are fit, they run to India, then we should be happy,” Sharma said.Sharma was pleased that the BCCI has now made it mandatory for all India players to play domestic cricket if they are fit and available. “When I was India’s chief selector, I thought if you do well in domestic cricket, you should get a chance. BCCI spends so much money and effort to organize domestic cricket. We have to respect domestic cricket. Recently I saw an article that BCCI told everyone about domestic cricket. So my dream has come true and I am really thankful to have played first in the RanjiBCCI class. if you are fit,” felt Sharma.Meanwhile, Sharma backed both the Indian women’s and men’s team to win the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi Nagoya, Japan. The Indian women’s team will take on Sri Lanka in the gold medal clash on Tuesday, while Shreyas Iyer & Co will begin their campaign in the quarter-finals on September 28.