- May 11, 2025
Rohit Sharma retiring from Test cricket might have landed like a surprise bouncer in the middle of an IPL game, but his decision to continue in ODIs has created a stir – and a lot of questions. Is it reasonable to think he could still be going beyond the 2027 ODI World Cup? That’s only 4 years away, and he will be 40 by then, and although age is just a number, you can’t compare facing 145 km/h on South African pitches. But if anyone can change the norms of longevity in cricket, it is the Hitman.
A Batting Beast That’s Aging Like Fine Wine
If you thought Father Time would slow Rohit down, you might need to watch the replay. He has averaged nearly 49 and struck an explosive 117+, and that’s since the beginning of 2023. That is borderline ridiculous for a 38-year-old.
And it’s not just about the runs. Rohit’s big starts have given the Indians some early momentum with the bat in the powerplay. He has averaged 65 in the last two ODI World Cups, with a couple of hundreds for good measure and maybe a bit less hair. While the years have surfaced on that beard, they have certainly not surfaced on his bat swing. If he is in form, he may well be halfway there towards 2027!
The Rest vs Rust Dilemma: Blessing or Boomerang?
Rohit playing one format could be anything from a dream or a nightmare. Less cricket means less injury risk and more time for recovery – that can only be a good thing for older players. He shouldn’t have to grind away at Test matches, and the circus of T20 is no longer a reality for him anymore. His ODI calendar looks leaner, smarter, and more convenient.
But here’s the flip side: rhythm is important. And the lowest levels of match practice bring rust. The high-risk nature of his game – taking calculated risks in the powerplay – requires quick reflexes and match awareness. Will he remain match-fit having played only ODIs and the IPL? Maybe. But that’s why the “rest vs rust” argument is a perennial topic in cricket. If he can manage this focused approach, it could become his biggest weapon. If not, it could be the one thing that comes back to haunt him.
For Team India, It’s Not Just Can He?—It’s He Must!
Let’s flip the question. Instead of asking, can Rohit make it to 2027, maybe we should be asking: Can India afford for him NOT to?
India doesn’t just have an opening batter in Rohit, they have a leader. To have a 77% win record as ODI captain is something. He has led India to an easy 2023 World Cup (aside from the horrendous final) and also led India to victory in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
India does not have a solid, sustained opening partner for Shubman Gill. There is no authentic developing player to plug the hole. The young players are developing, but they have not developed beyond the cliche of stepping up a level of international cricket yet. Rohit Sharma is essential for his coolness under pressure, experience, and his World Cup-winning captaincy. Rohit may be the only barrier between smiling and crying.
Will Rohit Sharma ride off into the sunset as a World Cup-winning captain, or will Father Time finally complete his inevitable march? The countdown to 2027 just got a lot more interesting.
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