Agra: Rohit Sharma retirement rumours dismissed by BCCI vice-president

By Rohan Gupta — 25 July 2026 — 3 min read

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla has addressed recent speculation regarding Rohit Sharma’s international cricket future, stating that there is “no question” of the veteran opener retiring at this time. Shukla’s comments follow days after Sharma scored a century at Lord’s during India’s One Day International (ODI) series against England, which many saw as a direct response to the rumours.

Speaking to reporters in Agra during the mini-auction for the fourth season of the UP T20 League, Shukla indicated that reports suggesting Sharma might soon conclude his international career lacked substance. He affirmed, “Rohit Sharma is a part of our team and is continuing to play. The things being circulated in the media and on social media have no meaning. As of now, there is no question of his retirement.”

Sharma’s Lord’s Performance

Speculation about the 39-year-old’s ODI future had grown during India’s tour of England, particularly after a period of lower scores. There were suggestions that the third ODI at Lord’s could potentially mark Sharma’s final appearance for India.

However, Sharma responded with a significant performance, scoring 138 runs off 110 deliveries. This innings made him the first Indian batter to achieve an ODI century at Lord’s. He also now has eight ODI centuries in England, placing him tied for second with Marcos Trescothick, behind Joe Root’s ten.

Sharma’s century came at a crucial time, reinforcing his consistent stance that he intends to continue playing and is focused on securing a place in India’s squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup. He dismissed external discussions about his future, emphasizing his commitment to playing for India.

“My job is with the bat. Come and play, represent my country, represent my team. That’s what I have been told to do since my debut so that’s what I am going to do,” Sharma stated in an interview published by BCCI.tv. He added, “The noise since I made my debut was there. And till the time I am going to stay here, it is always going to be there. So it doesn’t really matter too much. What matters is what I do on the field, try and contribute to the success of the team. That’s all my focus is right now. And let the noise be there. If there is no noise, there is no fun.”

Team Performance and Future Focus

Despite Sharma’s century at Lord’s, India ultimately lost the ODI series against England by a margin of 2-1, concluding a challenging tour of the United Kingdom. Earlier in the tour, India had also faced a 2-0 series defeat against Ireland and a 4-0 loss in the T20I series against England.

During his Lord’s innings, Sharma formed a 113-run partnership with Virat Kohli. He noted the long-standing camaraderie, saying, “We (Kohli and I) played our entire career together, so it was nice to have him in the middle. We’ve had a lot of partnerships, it is always fun batting together, we understand each other so much.”

Shukla also addressed questions about India’s leadership, dismissing suggestions for changes amidst scrutiny of captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir. He stated, “Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but the decision on who stays in the team and who does not rests with the selectors. The Indian team is performing well and winning matches, so there is no need for any changes at present.”

Sharma acknowledged the team’s bowling challenges, particularly the inexperience of some players in ODI cricket, and stressed the need for collective improvement. He highlighted the importance of learning from past games and focusing on group efforts as the ICC Cricket World Cup approaches next year.

Shukla’s recent remarks, combined with Sharma’s own commitment to representing India, have temporarily quelled the speculation surrounding the former India captain’s international career. Shukla was in Agra for the UP T20 League mini-auction, where 282 players were in the auction pool for six franchises, with 45 players slated to be picked.

Source: hindustantimes.com