Lord’s could host Rohit Sharma’s final ODI as selectors eye future plans

By Rohan Gupta — 16 July 2026 — 3 min read

Potential End to an International Career

The third One Day International (ODI) between India and England at Lord’s Cricket Ground on July 19 could mark the final international appearance for Rohit Sharma. Reports suggest that the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) senior selection committee has decided to move forward without him after the conclusion of the current series.

Discussions reportedly took place last week between the selection panel, Sharma, and head coach Gautam Gambhir to outline the future vision for the team. The committee is reportedly keen on providing an extended opportunity to Yashasvi Jaiswal, indicating that Sharma may not be part of their long-term plans leading up to the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Selectors Prioritise Future Stability

A source within the Indian board confirmed that selectors communicated to Sharma that his future beyond the England tour was not included in their planning, despite his reported desire to continue playing and his focus on fitness. The decision regarding his next steps has reportedly been left to Sharma himself.

Sharma’s recent performance with the bat has not strengthened his case for an extension. He scored 11 runs in the first ODI and a laboured 26 runs off 47 balls in the second ODI at Cardiff. His innings at Cardiff was particularly notable for being his slowest in an ODI when scoring at least 25 runs, and he struggled with timing throughout the series.

The ODI captaincy was transferred to Shubman Gill last year, signaling a generational shift by the BCCI in preparation for the 2027 World Cup. While ending a significant career is challenging, especially for a player who has delivered multiple ICC trophies as captain, the selectors appear to be prioritising future stability over short-term loyalty.

Transition Plans and Previous Retirements

This potential ODI exit would follow Sharma’s earlier retirements from other formats. He stepped away from T20Is on June 29, 2024, shortly after leading India to a World Cup victory. He later announced his Test retirement on May 7, 2025, via social media before that summer’s tour of England.

Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar is currently in Cardiff as the touring selector, and it is understood that the committee is not considering Sharma for the upcoming ODI World Cup. The national selectors are reportedly keen for Jaiswal to have a longer opportunity, with approximately 20 games available for him to gain experience.

While no one can compel Sharma to retire, it is clear that selectors intend to look forward for the home series against West Indies in September. Head coach Gambhir and Agarkar are reportedly aligned on this transition, with Virat Kohli remaining an automatic choice due to his form and fitness, but not Sharma.

It is understood that if Sharma were to continue beyond the England tour, Jaiswal, who is next in line, would miss out on valuable game time. There were previous disagreements between the selection committee and Sharma regarding his Test retirement, with sources close to the committee indicating they did not want him to decide after playing only two of five Tests in England, while those close to Sharma stated he intended to play the entire series.

Source: sports.yahoo.com

Rohan Gupta

Sports Reporter