Rohit Sharma eyes 2027 ODI World Cup, trains alongside Abhishek Nayar

Published - 12 Aug 2025, 22:32 IST | Updated - 12 Aug 2025, 22:02 IST

Rohit Sharma is one of the biggest names in Indian and world cricket, carrying immense weight and respect. He is an ODI legend, known as a master of big-match innings, and holds the third-highest number of hundreds in the format’s history. After his brilliant performances over the years, Rohit has become synonymous with consistency and leadership in limited-overs cricket.

Following India’s recent success with the young Test squad in England, the focus has shifted to the future of the ODI captaincy. Rohit, who has been leading the side with distinction, now faces a changing landscape where the next generation of players is eager to take charge. This transition phase has brought about speculation about whether Rohit will continue as the skipper of the format he plays at the international arena, or if the leadership will be passed on to Test skipper Shubman Gill.

After the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, Rohit took a break from cricket, announcing his retirement from Test cricket before the England series to focus exclusively on the ODI format. He then enjoyed a family holiday in England before returning to Mumbai last week.

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma not in BCCI's plan for 2027 ODI WC

Upon his return, the top-order batter immediately resumed his training, signalling his commitment to remain competitive at the highest level. On August 12, he shared an Instagram story from a suburban gym where he was training with his close friend and former BCCI assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, who has guided several top players such as KL Rahul, Dinesh Karthik, and Rinku Singh.

Rohit’s continued dedication to training suggests he is preparing for the long haul, with the 2027 ODI World Cup still 26 months away. Some members of the team management believe he deserves a farewell series, at least as a captain, possibly against Australia, before handing over the captaincy responsibilities.

Rohit has been a dominant force in ODIs, scoring 32 hundreds and ranking third on the all-time list, behind only Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar. He was also the Player of the Match in India’s Champions Trophy final victory over New Zealand.

To date, Rohit has played 273 ODI matches, amassing 11,168 runs at an average of 48.76. His record includes three double-centuries, with his highest score being a brilliant 264 in Kolkata against Sri Lanka. As the Indian cricketing board and the members of the senior selection committee weigh their options, Rohit's determination to remain at the pinnacle of ODI cricket remains as strong as ever.