Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned the timing of the speculation surrounding Rohit Sharma’s ODI future, insisting that senior players deserve clear and timely communication from the team management. His comments come ahead of the third and final ODI against England at Lord’s, where reports about Rohit’s long-term future have dominated headlines despite the BCCI later clarifying that the veteran opener remains part of India’s plans.
The retirement debate has gathered momentum over the past few days, with reports suggesting Rohit’s place in India’s roadmap for the 2027 ODI World Cup was under discussion. However, the BCCI moved to calm the speculation by reiterating that the 39-year-old continues to feature in the team’s plans.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin emphasized that India still needs the experience of both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, particularly with major overseas assignments and the next ODI World Cup cycle approaching. While acknowledging the rise of younger players such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ashwin stressed that selectors must communicate difficult decisions well in advance rather than allowing uncertainty to linger.
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“I am thinking we are going to South Africa in September and October. Do we need Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma? If you ask me, I will say we need that experience,” Ravichandran Ashwin said.
He further explained that if the selectors had already decided against considering Rohit and Kohli for the 2027 World Cup, the message should have been conveyed much earlier.
“I know Yashasvi Jaiswal is pushing hard from behind, but if you ever felt as a selector, coach or captain that we don’t want these players in the 2027 World Cup, then you could have communicated that at the end of the Champions Trophy. If you go to a player and tell him that we want to move on from you, no player will like that,” he added.
Ashwin also reflected on his own retirement from international cricket, revealing that he accepted the decision after receiving honest communication from the team management during India’s tour of Australia in 2024.
“Even when the coach came and communicated with me in Australia that they wanted to look past me, I accepted it. One bad series can happen to any player, but you have to communicate with the player,” Ravichandran Ashwin explained.
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Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma has endured a difficult ODI series against England, managing just 37 runs across two innings. The experienced opener will now look to rediscover his touch in the series-deciding clash at Lord’s and silence the growing speculation surrounding his international future.
