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Rohit Sharma’s ODI future has become a major talking point once again after reports claimed that sections of the Indian team management believe the veteran opener should consider stepping away from the format. The discussion comes at a time when Rohit has just returned to full fitness following a hamstring injury that restricted his participation during IPL 2026.
While Rohit remains one of India’s most accomplished white-ball cricketers, concerns over his fitness and long-term future continue to generate debate within cricket circles. The 39-year-old has been named in India’s squad for the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan, but fresh reports suggest that not everyone within the setup sees him as part of the team’s long-term plans.
Rohit Sharma declared fit for Afghanistan ODIs
India received a significant boost ahead of the Afghanistan ODI series after Rohit Sharma was cleared by the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Rohit had been recovering from a hamstring injury suffered during IPL 2026. The injury limited his involvement for the Mumbai Indians and forced the franchise to carefully manage his workload throughout the tournament.
Even after returning to action, Rohit was used primarily as an Impact Substitute, avoiding extended periods on the field. Because of those concerns, his inclusion in India’s ODI squad came with the condition that he would have to pass a fitness assessment at the Centre of Excellence before being cleared for selection.
The veteran batter has now successfully completed those tests and has been declared fit for the Afghanistan series. However, despite receiving the green signal from the medical staff, questions remain over whether Rohit can consistently cope with the physical demands of 50-over cricket moving forward.
How did Rohit Sharma perform in IPL 2026?
Rohit’s IPL 2026 campaign was a mixed one. While injuries disrupted his season, he still managed to produce a few important innings for the Mumbai Indians whenever he was available.
According to his season statistics, Rohit scored 283 runs in nine innings at an average of 35.37 and a strike rate of 157.22. His highest score was 84, while he also registered two half-centuries during the tournament.
His most notable innings came against the Lucknow Super Giants when he smashed 84 runs. He also played a match-winning knock of 78 against Kolkata Knight Riders earlier in the season. Apart from those innings, Rohit struggled to produce consistent scores, registering knocks of 35, 25, 22, 15, five and a duck in his other appearances. While the numbers were respectable, the bigger concern was his fitness.
‘Gautam Gambhir is more powerful than Rohit Sharma in the Indian dressing room today’
According to a report in CricBlogger, there is a growing belief within sections of the Indian team management that Rohit Sharma should voluntarily step aside and allow younger players an opportunity to establish themselves in the ODI setup.
The report stated that neither the management nor head coach Gautam Gambhir has any issue with Rohit’s place in the side as long as he remains fit and continues scoring runs. However, there is also a feeling that India must start planning for the future.
“Shouldn’t he retire? There are others waiting for an opportunity to break into the team, and technically he should make way for them. What’s the point of carrying on like this? Rohit has to accept that Gambhir is more powerful than him in the Indian dressing room today,” Source told CricBlogger.
The report further claimed that if Rohit does not step aside on his own, there is a possibility that he could eventually be dropped from the ODI squad. Also, Rohit Sharma’s relationship with Gambhir has done little to strengthen his position.
