Retirement and selection discussions around Rohit Sharma have dominated Indian cricket in recent days, with reports suggesting the veteran opener may no longer be in contention after India’s tour of England. While speculation over his future continued to grow, Rohit responded in the strongest possible way by producing a brilliant century in the final ODI at Lord’s.

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The experienced batter scored 138 off 110 deliveries, brushing aside the outside chatter with a commanding innings. Earlier, Rohit had also acknowledged the ongoing speculation, saying that the “noise will be there.”

Amid the debate over his future, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin shared why removing players of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s stature from the national side is far from straightforward.

Why Rohit and Virat are difficult to drop?

Speaking on his Hindi YouTube channel ‘Ash ki Baat’, Ashwin pointed to the duo’s achievements and their massive following as the biggest reasons selectors face a difficult task. “They cannot touch Virat and Rohit if they want to play. It is because of their credentials. Rohit has scored almost 12,000 runs; they cannot touch him,” Ashwin said.

Ashwin also highlighted the immense popularity of both cricketers, saying their presence extends beyond performances on the field. “The other thing is, they cannot be touched because they are batters. They have an army, a battalion. People come to see them. If you drop them, it will just break the roof down,” he also said.

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Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli after winning the Champions Trophy
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Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli after winning the Champions Trophy | X [CricBuzz]

Ashwin compares the situation with fast bowlers

The former off-spinner went on to explain that bowlers rarely attract the same level of public reaction when they are left out of the team. “But if Shami, Siraj or Bhuvneshwar are not picked, 10 people will question. 100 people, 1000 people, maybe 10,000 people will question. But they won’t make noise. If a day comes when people would make noise for bowlers, it would be difficult to drop them as well,” Ashwin explained.

His remarks underlined the difference in public attention received by star batters compared to even some of India’s most accomplished bowlers.

Rohit Sharma answers critics with Lord’s century

Questions over Rohit’s future intensified following reports that the BCCI selection committee was not considering him for the 2027 ODI World Cup. After modest scores in the opening two matches of the series, the India captain answered those discussions with one of his finest ODI knocks.

Indian ex-captain Rohit Sharma
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Indian ex-captain Rohit Sharma | X [CricBuzz]

Batting in a steep chase of 388, Rohit struck 138 from 110 balls, finding boundaries with ease throughout his innings. His knock featured 17 fours and five sixes, keeping India’s hopes alive deep into the chase.

The century served as a timely reminder of Rohit’s ability at the highest level, arriving at a time when conversations around his place in the Indian team had become one of the biggest talking points in Indian cricket.

FAQs

What did Ravichandran Ashwin say about Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli?

Ashwin said Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are difficult to drop because of their achievements and massive fan following.

How did Rohit Sharma respond to retirement speculation?

Rohit scored 138 off 110 balls in the third ODI against England at Lord’s, silencing criticism with a match-defining innings.