Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has taken a swipe at the growing retirement speculation surrounding Rohit Sharma, saying the veteran opener silenced his critics with a magnificent century in the third ODI against England at Lord’s. Kaif believes Rohit has earned the right to decide when his international career ends and should not be forced into retirement by constant public debate.
Ahead of the series decider, reports suggested that Rohit Sharma was no longer part of India’s long-term plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup, with selectors reportedly looking to groom younger options. The rumours intensified after the second ODI, with several reports claiming that the Lord’s clash could be Rohit’s final appearance in the 50-over format.
However, the 39-year-old responded in trademark fashion. Chasing a daunting target of 388, Rohit produced a sublime 138 off 110 balls, an innings featuring 17 fours and five sixes. Although India eventually lost by 27 runs and surrendered the series 2-1, Rohit’s masterclass became the defining moment of the match.
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Reacting to the performance on Instagram, Mohammad Kaif mocked those who had questioned Rohit’s future before the game.
“Hogaya retirement? Katwali naak? (Are you done with the retirement talks? How’s this embarrassment?) Rohit Sharma will decide his own retirement; he has earned that right. He has done so much for India. He will leave on his own terms. Yet, there is so much pressure with people saying, ‘Brother, you’re done, just retire.’ It was under that very pressure that he scored a century at Lord’s,” Kaif said.
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Following the match, Rohit also addressed the constant speculation over his future, saying the outside noise has never affected his mindset. The former India captain even admitted that he enjoys the pressure, adding that “if there is no noise, there is no fun.”
Kaif further urged India captain Shubman Gill, head coach Gautam Gambhir and the BCCI to publicly back Rohit Sharma, believing that such support would allow the veteran batter to play with complete freedom.
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According to Kaif, Rohit has continued to deliver despite facing relentless scrutiny, and a clear vote of confidence from the team management could unlock even better performances. He argued that instead of constantly debating the opener’s future, Indian cricket should trust one of its greatest white-ball batters to decide the right time to walk away from the game.
With his historic century at Lord’s, Rohit not only became the first Indian to score an ODI hundred at the iconic venue but also sent a powerful reminder that he remains capable of performing on the biggest stages despite the growing retirement debate.
