Former India captain Rohit Sharma delivered a resounding answer to his critics with a breathtaking century in the third ODI against England at Lord’s on Sunday. Amid growing speculation surrounding his ODI future and retirement, the veteran opener smashed a magnificent 138 off just 110 deliveries, keeping India in the hunt during a daunting chase. His dazzling knock, featuring 17 boundaries and five towering sixes, reminded everyone why he remains one of the most destructive white-ball batters in world cricket, even though his heroic effort ultimately ended in a losing cause.
Rohit Sharma breaks silence on retirement buzz after Lord’s heroics
Following his remarkable innings, Rohit finally addressed the retirement rumours that have dominated discussions in recent weeks. Speaking in a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the high-class batter made it clear that outside opinions have never influenced his mindset and that his only responsibility is to contribute on the field.
“My job is with the bat. Come and play, represent my country. That’s what I have been told to do since I made my debut. That’s what I am going to do,” Rohit said.
The 39-year-old acknowledged that criticism and speculation have followed him throughout his international career, but insisted that such conversations do not affect his approach.
“Since I made my debut, the noise was there. Till the time I am going to be there, the noise will be there. It doesn’t matter to me. What matters is what I do on the field. I want to try and contribute to the success of the team. That’s all my focus is,” he added.
Rohit gives clear message ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup
Beyond dismissing the retirement chatter, Rohit’s comments also reflected his determination to keep representing India for as long as he can contribute meaningfully. Rather than engaging with public debate, the experienced opener underlined that performances on the field remain his only priority.
“If there is no noise, there is no fun. My job is inside. Their job is outside. That’s how I look at it,” Rohit remarked with a smile.
The statement sends a strong message ahead of India’s preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup. While questions over age and longevity continue to surface, Rohit’s latest innings showed that he is still capable of producing match-defining performances against top-quality opposition. Although England eventually clinched the series with victory at Lord’s, Rohit’s century emerged as one of the biggest positives for India. His fluent strokeplay, calculated aggression and ability to dominate the English bowling attack demonstrated that he remains a vital figure in India’s ODI setup.
