Rohit Sharma’s ODI future uncertain after England series

By Rohan Gupta — 17 July 2026 — 3 min read

Selection committee’s decision

Rohit Sharma‘s tenure as an automatic selection for the Indian One Day International (ODI) squad appears to be nearing its conclusion. Following his performance in the second ODI against England in Cardiff, where he scored 26 runs off 47 balls, reports suggest that the selection committee has decided he will no longer be the first-choice opener after the ongoing series. The third and final ODI against England at Lord’s on Sunday, July 19, could potentially mark his last appearance for India in the format.

The selectors had reportedly considered dropping Rohit earlier, specifically after the ODI series against Afghanistan. During that time, Rohit declined to rest for the third ODI in Chennai, which would have allowed Yashasvi Jaiswal an opportunity to play. This decision led to captain Shubman Gill batting at number three to accommodate Jaiswal in the lineup.

Sources indicate that the team management and selectors have communicated their views regarding Rohit‘s future to the Indian cricket board (BCCI). It remains to be seen how the board will address this situation, whether through direct communication with Rohit or through the selectors.

Transition and future plans

The BCCI selectors have reportedly informed Rohit Sharma of their decision to move towards new players. This transition is part of a broader strategy to prepare for the ODI World Cup in South Africa, scheduled for October-November 2027. Younger players like Yashasvi Jaiswal are being considered for a longer run to gain experience and readiness for the upcoming global tournament.

The team management and selectors had initially intended to give Jaiswal a full series in England. However, they opted to stick with Rohit to provide him with another chance to regain his form and fluency. Despite this, his recent performances, including scores of 11 and 26 in the first two ODIs against England, have seemingly solidified the selectors’ decision.

In his last eight ODIs, Rohit has accumulated 241 runs at an average of 30.1 with a strike rate of 88.6, including one half-century. This performance has been a point of concern for the team management, especially since he replaced Shubman Gill as the ODI captain after the victorious Champions Trophy campaign in March 2025.

Concerns and previous decisions

The team management has expressed dissatisfaction with Rohit Sharma‘s performances since he took over the ODI captaincy. Concerns about his fitness were also raised with the BCCI before the squad for the Afghanistan series was selected in May. There were doubts among selectors and team management about his ability to sustain his form until the World Cup in 2027.

Rohit‘s batting approach reportedly changed after the Champions Trophy, becoming more cautious and sedate. The management believes he often requires three games to find his rhythm in a series. This challenge is compounded by his retirement from the other two formats of international cricket and his limited participation in domestic cricket, having played only two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches last season, one of which was against Sikkim.

Rohit Sharma retired from T20Is after leading India to their second World Cup title in June 2024, and from Test cricket in May 2025. His ODI captaincy record includes leading India to the 2023 World Cup final and the Champions Trophy title in 2025. Despite these achievements, the selectors have reportedly conveyed their opinion to him, leaving the final decision on his future with him and the board.

The third and final ODI against England is scheduled for Sunday, July 19.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Rohan Gupta

Sports Reporter