How did the news get leaked? Why was it shared in while India’s match was going on? Have selectors really told Rohit Sharma to retire? Is Gautam Gambhir forcing him out of the side? The eve of the third ODI between India and England has been nothing but a bubble ready to burst on July 19. All kinds of reports are circulating. All kinds of assumptions are being made. Rohit Sharma’s rumoured possible retirement has put the series on the backburner.
But we won’t keep it like that. The pressure on India will be immense. England outplayed them in Cardiff. As soon as the hosts bettered their bowling attack, India crumbled after a surprising collapse. Virat Kohli looked in great touch but it was his wicket that started the downfall for India. Joe Root then showed why he is India’s arch-nemesis. With that, India are at the crossroads. Will they end this UK tour on a high or go home with just learning and nothing materialistic?
Lord’s decider to decide Gautam Gambhir’s future?
Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as India’s head coach runs till 2027. He’s likely to lead till the ODI World Cup 2027 in South Africa but you can’t really guarantee anything in this day and age. Yes, he may have won India two ICC trophies but the fact that he’s also endured some of the country’s horrible defeats won’t be an overstatement.
After losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Down Under, India got to a new low. The Indian Test side lost two home series, something that never happened in Indian history in back-to-back years. In one of those losses, India also endured its heaviest Test defeat ever (by 408 runs).
But it was the white-ball results that were keeping Gambhir afloat. Under him, India recorded one of the best periods of T20I dominance. But now, even that is under a huge question mark. India faced a horrible defeat to Ireland last month. Mind you, Ireland didn’t even have their best team available. Yet, India lost quite comfortably. Then, England gave India a shellacking of highest quality.
India got dethroned from their number one crown, losing the five-match series 4-0. The batters completely failed to adapt to the conditions, while the bowling looked toothless without Jasprit Bumrah. Now, if India lose again at Lord’s, questions will be raised against Gambhir.
India next play a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. That won’t be easy at all as well. Suppose if England beat India in the ODI series and India don’t win the Tests in Sri Lanka; the BCCI will no doubt summon Gambhir and his staff for tough questions.
Rohit Sharma’s future under scanner despite BCCI’s reassurance
Funny how quickly things change in Indian cricket. A few weeks ago, Rohit Sharma was being spoken about as the man who had rediscovered his ODI rhythm. After a well-made fifty in the last ODI against Afghanistan, things should’ve been easier for him. He started his training for the England series well in advance. Was supposed to have a fruitful series.
Now, two scratchy innings in Cardiff have been enough for social media to decide that Lord’s will be his farewell. The BCCI has publicly rubbished those claims. Secretary Devajit Saikia has already clarified that this is not Rohit’s last ODI for India. Officially, the debate should have ended there. But we all know that it doesn’t work like that.
Because this isn’t really about one match. It’s about what comes after it. Rohit will be 40 by the time the next ODI World Cup arrives. The selectors have a young, dynamic, and aggressive Yashasvi Jaiswal in mind as well. Every Rohit innings from now on is going to be viewed through that lens and failure will revive the retirement chatter. Every fifty will merely postpone it. Lord’s just happens to be the latest courtroom.
Rohit has become the story, whether he likes it or not
But in Cardiff, Rohit looked like he was on the other side of 30. Yes, he has worked on his fitness and is managing well even after fielding for 50 overs, but the two knocks he has played on bouncy English conditions have left a lot to be desired. In the second ODI, Rohit played his slowest knock ever. A horrible time to come at for the Hitman, who has been struggling in ODIs this year, scoring 241 runs at 30.12. His SR has taken a toll as well, striking at 88.
The irony is that Lord’s might actually suit him far better. If the pitch is truer, Rohit gets to play the game on his terms again. Front-foot pulls. Lofted drives. Those effortless pickups over square leg that have tortured fast bowlers for nearly two decades. But the question is, has the ship sailed already? One innings probably won’t decide whether Rohit plays the 2027 World Cup. It all depends on the selection committee.
