Australia’s legendary cricketer Ricky Ponting believes that Rohit Sharma still has unfinished business in ODI cricket, which has driven his decision to continue playing and leading India until the 2027 ODI World Cup, set to be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
Barring the ODI World Cup, Rohit has secured all major ICC trophies while captaining India. The closest he came to lifting the prestigious 50-over title was in 2023, when India suffered a heart-breaking loss to Australia in the final.
Speaking on The ICC Review, Ponting shed light on Rohit’s determination to keep going.
“When you reach a certain age, everyone starts speculating about your retirement. But why should you retire when you’re still performing at your best? I think Rohit wanted to put an end to all these rumors and make it clear that he still loves playing and leading this team.”
Ponting believes that Rohit’s decision to extend his career suggests a clear long-term goal — winning the 2027 World Cup.
Rohit’s Leadership and Continued Dominance
Handed the captaincy in 2021 at 34, Rohit recently added another ICC trophy to his cabinet as India defeated New Zealand by four wickets to clinch the Champions Trophy on Sunday. Rohit led from the front, scoring a vital 76 off 83 balls, setting up India’s successful chase of 252 runs.
Before the tournament, speculation was rife that Rohit might retire from ODIs after the Champions Trophy, similar to his decision to retire from T20Is after winning the T20 World Cup last year. However, he dismissed all rumors in the post-match press conference.
“Just to clear things up, I am not retiring from this format. No more rumors, please,” Rohit declared after receiving the Player of the Match award.
Ponting: ‘ODI World Cup Is the Missing Piece for Rohit’
Ponting feels that the disappointment of the 2023 World Cup final loss has fueled Rohit’s hunger for another shot at the title.
“The fact that they lost the last one with him as captain is probably playing on his mind. He wants one more crack at the big three – the T20 World Cup, the Champions Trophy, and most importantly, the ODI World Cup.”
Ponting further stated that given Rohit’s stellar form, there is no reason for him to consider retirement anytime soon.
“When you see him play like he did in the Champions Trophy final, you can’t say his time is up yet,” Ponting added.
What Lies Ahead for Rohit and Team India?
With the 2026 T20 World Cup and 2027 ODI World Cup on the horizon, Rohit Sharma will continue to play a crucial role in India’s title aspirations. As he remains committed to leading India in ODIs, the cricketing world will keenly watch whether he can add the elusive 50-over World Cup to his already illustrious career.
