'Thought this was your retirement match'; Gautam Gambhir's remark to Rohit Sharma sparks buzz

ADELAIDE: Will superstars and former captains Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma play in the 2027 ODI Cricket World Cup? Fans have been asking this question for quite some time. Since both players have retired from T20I and Test formats, rumours have been strong that they might soon retire from ODIs as well. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar have been repeatedly asked whether the two will be part of the team in 2027.

Even after leading India to victory in the Champions Trophy, Rohit Sharma was removed as ODI captain, which further fueled speculation about his possible retirement from ODIs. The same question was also raised to Shubman Gill, who replaced Rohit as the Indian captain in both Test and ODIs. Agarkar and Gambhir have made it clear, directly and indirectly, that selection will depend only on form and fitness and that age will not be a deciding factor.

Rohit Sharma, who still dreams of lifting the ODI World Cup, is working hard to maintain his form and fitness. Recently, he lost about 20 kilograms of weight. Arriving in Australia with a new look, Rohit managed to score only 8 runs from 15 balls in the first match, while Kohli was dismissed for a duck. This immediately reignited the retirement rumours.

When Kohli was dismissed for zero again in the second match, “Ro-Ko” fans were disappointed. But Rohit lifted their spirits by scoring 73 runs and becoming the top scorer for India. After the match, Gautam Gambhir’s words to Rohit gave fans new hope. He jokingly said, “Everyone thought today was your retirement match. Don’t disappoint them, at least post a photo!” Fans took this as a clear sign that Rohit Sharma is not planning to retire anytime soon.