India captain Shubman Gill has finally addressed the intense speculation surrounding Rohit Sharma‘s international future following the third ODI against England at Lord’s. With retirement rumours dominating headlines in recent days, Gill offered his first public comments on the matter after the series-deciding clash, shedding light on the situation from inside the Indian camp.
The discussion over Rohit’s future gathered pace after reports claimed that the veteran opener could be nearing the end of his international career. However, Gill’s post-match remarks have now provided fresh insight into what is happening behind the scenes, even as no official announcement has been made by either Rohit or the selectors.
Shubman Gill opens up on Rohit Sharma’s retirement rumours
Speaking after India’s 27-run defeat at Lord’s, Gill dismissed suggestions that Rohit’s retirement had become a topic of discussion within the squad. When asked whether the senior opener had informed his teammates about any plans to retire from international cricket, Gill made it clear that nothing of that sort had happened. He said Rohit had not spoken to the team about his future and added that the speculation appeared to be limited to media reports rather than conversations inside the dressing room.
“We have not had a chance. I mean, he has not told us anything. I think it’s all out in the media, but there’s not been any discussion like that in the team,” said Gill during the post-match presentation after India’s loss against England in the 3rd ODI.
Gill also highlighted Rohit’s calmness during a challenging chase as one of the defining aspects of his innings. The India captain revealed that the pair had discussed whether to attack aggressively during the powerplay but soon realised that stroke-making against the new ball was far from straightforward. Gill praised Rohit’s ability to assess the conditions before shifting gears at the right time. According to Gill, Rohit’s composure at the crease allowed him to build his innings patiently before accelerating rapidly once he was set. Watching from the non-striker’s end, Gill said the veteran looked completely in control throughout his knock.
“I think the way Rohit bhai faced the bowlers, he was very calm. Most of the time, I was a non-striker, and watching him, he was very calm. In the powerplay, we were talking about whether to go for a hit or not, but we saw that hitting with a new ball is not that easy. And I think the way he faced the bowlers, and the way he accelerated, I think he got close to 60-70 in quick time. So, he was very calm,” Gill added.
Rohit answers critics with stunning Lord’s century
If there were questions surrounding Rohit’s form before the third ODI, the experienced opener responded in emphatic fashion. After registering scores of just 11 and 26 in the opening two matches, Rohit produced one of his finest ODI innings at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground. He smashed a brilliant 138 off just 110 deliveries, bringing up his maiden ODI century at the venue and giving India genuine hope during their daunting chase of 388.
Gill also contributed with a fluent 77, while Virat Kohli added 74. The trio laid a solid platform, but England’s bowlers struck at crucial moments to bowl India out for 360, sealing a 27-run victory and clinching the three-match ODI series 2-1.
Although the result went England’s way, Rohit’s innings became one of the major talking points of the match, with many viewing it as a reminder of his enduring quality in the 50-over format.
