Rohit Sharma: Let The Bat Decide When The Story Ends

Anup V Menon
Sports Analyst and Knowledge Partner

Rohit Sharma, of all people, being kept in the dark regarding his chances of making India’s 2027 ODI World Cup squad is perhaps the worst thing the BCCI can do to a living legend of the sport.

Rohit has been scoring runs, striking at a healthy rate and contributing to winning games. More importantly, he has been consistent. His cricketing acumen is second to none, and having Rohit and Virat Kohli together can only strengthen India’s chances in the 2027 World Cup.

All these talks of retaining Kohli while bidding goodbye to Rohit need to be put to rest. Such uncertainty can easily tinker with a player’s confidence, especially when that player has done little wrong on the field.

Rohit turning 40 by the time of the 2027 World Cup should not be the primary factor in deciding his place. His performance with the bat and his fitness should be the key parameters. It goes without saying, pick the player, not the date of birth.

Having said that, Rohit’s inclusion cannot and should not be based on past laurels or what he has achieved over the years. It has to be based solely on his current form, his fitness, his passion for the game and what he can bring to the table. And this principle should apply to every player hoping to make the cut.

Rohit would know better than anyone else that he needs to keep performing to cement his place in the side. Of late, his bat has been very vocal and doing all the talking. That, ultimately, should be the most important criterion when his chances are assessed. And if Rohit himself feels that he no longer fits the bill, I have little doubt that he will be the first one to walk away.

But until that happens, why close the door?

Rohit is known to possess one of the finest cricketing brains in world cricket. His value to the Indian team extends well beyond his runs. At the top of the order, his explosive and swashbuckling style can force opposition teams to rethink their strategies from the very beginning.

I have rarely seen players who had the courage to go all out with such a selfless approach as an opener and captain. Rohit has been one of them. He is also a proven big match player, with a wealth of experience accumulated over years at the highest level. And perhaps his biggest value in the next phase could be as a leader and mentor.

India will inevitably have to navigate a transition. Shubman Gill and the next generation will carry much of that responsibility. But transitions need not mean abruptly discarding proven match winners before they have reached the end of their journey.

Rohit can be of immense help to Gill when India have to navigate difficult situations. His understanding of the game, reading of conditions, tactical awareness and experience in high pressure matches are assets that cannot simply be replicated in an academy or a dressing room overnight.

There is a wealth of knowledge and wisdom in Rohit’s cricketing brain that any youngster coming into the Indian team can benefit from. That is why the real talking point should not be whether Rohit is too old for the 2027 World Cup. It should be whether he remains good enough for it.

If he stays fit and continues to perform at the level he has shown recently, there is absolutely no reason for the Indian think tank to overlook him. The BCCI would do well to plan the transition with Rohit rather than planning it around his absence.

Both Rohit and Kohli have made it clear through their cricket that the 2027 World Cup remains a target. If they continue to perform, both should have a genuine opportunity to be on that flight to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Kohli’s inclusion being viewed as almost certain while Rohit’s future remains surrounded by uncertainty is difficult to comprehend. If anything, Rohit should be afforded the same opportunity. Continue performing, remain fit and let the cricket decide. I firmly believe Rohit is as integral to India’s chances in the 2027 World Cup as Kohli, provided his form and fitness continue to justify that belief.

Cricket history is filled with stalwarts who were moved aside prematurely, before they had actually reached their finish line. There is a lesson here for Indian cricket. The greatest injustice that can be done to a champion is to decide that he is no longer good enough before he has actually stopped being good enough.

Players who have played this game would understand this better than anyone. The core of India’s 2027 World Cup squad needs to start taking shape now. There has to be a definite strategy, a clear succession plan and, most importantly, proper communication with the players who are part of that plan. Based on his current form, I would certainly have Rohit in that conversation.

Succession planning is important. But succession does not necessarily mean replacement.

India have only one more year before the World Cup. Unless there is a significant decline in Rohit’s form or fitness, why disrupt a successful combination now? Why bring in someone completely new when you have a player of Rohit’s experience, cricketing intelligence and artistry still performing at the highest level? Let the next generation learn from the best while they still can.

And most importantly, I sincerely hope the 2027 World Cup is never treated as a retirement platform for Rohit Sharma.

Don’t select him because of what he has done.

Don’t exclude him because of his age. Keep the door open as long as he keeps scoring, keeps contributing and keeps himself fit.

At the end of the day, Rohit Sharma or any player who has given his sweat and blood to Indian cricket deserves nothing more and nothing less than a fair chance to prove that he still belongs.

Let the bat decide when the story ends. Because Rohit Sharma’s story, for now, is still unfinished.