2027 World Cup is too far away: Rohit Sharmas future questioned after his poor show against New Zealand
Team India star Rohit Sharma's poor show in the recently concluded ODI series against New Zealand at home has once again sparked concerns regarding his future with the World Cup next year.
Senior India batter Rohit Sharma's future has come under scrutiny once again after his flop show in the recently concluded ODI series against New Zealand. With the 2027 ODI World Cup still some time away, Rohit's poor returns in the ODIs against the Kiwis have led to questions regarding his hunger.
Rohit endured an underwhelming outing in the three-match ODI series against New Zealand as he managed only 61 runs in three innings at a dismal average of 20.33 and a strike rate of 76.25. The senior India batter was dismissed cheaply on 26 runs in the first ODI in Vadodara and managed only 24 runs off 38 balls in the 2nd ODI in Rajkot.
With India in pursuit of a huge target of 338 runs in the series-deciding third ODI against New Zealand in Indore on Sunday, Rohit was expected to bounce back among the runs and provide India with a strong start at the top. However, the Hitman failed to do so as he was caught off the bowling of Zakary Foulkes after scoring only 11 runs off 13 balls.
India lost the third ODI by 41 runs after failing to chase down the target of 338 runs to suffer their first-ever ODI series defeat against the Kiwis at home. After Rohit's underwhelming returns in the series, former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull questioned whether the star batter, who will turn 39 in April this year, still has the hunger to continue winning matches for India at the highest level.
"I feel with Rohit, he’s always had something to chase, in terms of a goal in mind, whether it be a T20 World Cup or a 50-over World Cup. I just wonder, that 2027 World Cup in South Africa, is that too far away? Does he still have that real hunger?" Doull said on Star Sports.
Doull also pointed out how Rohit will not get a lot of gametime for India in the coming months, having already retired from Tests and T20Is. Rohit will not return to action for India till the Men in Blue's next ODI series in June this year.
"The last little while, and even coming up over the next few weeks, we’re building towards a T20 World Cup. So there has been very little one-day cricket over the past four months and there will be very little in the next three or four months as well. When you’re only playing one format, you don’t get a huge number of opportunities," Doull added.
Rohit's failure in the third ODI against New Zealand on Sunday also sparked a debate on social media as many questioned his place in the side amid growing concerns over his form and age. With a young Yashasvi Jaiswal waiting in the wings, Rohit is set to face intense scrutiny when he returns to action for India in their next series.
Rohit Sharma failed to continue his purple patch against New Zealand
There were little concerns regarding Rohit's form and fitness ahead of the New Zealand ODI series as the Hitman performed exceptionally well in the ODI series against Australia last year and continued his purple patch in the ODI series against South Africa at home. Rohit won the Player of the Series in India's ODI series in Australia last year after smashing 202 runs in three matches.
He scored 146 runs in the three matches in the ODI series against South Africa at home, including two fifties. However, he failed to continue his purple patch in the ODIs against New Zealand, managing only 61 runs in three matches, with no half-century to his name. His poor show against the Kiwis has sparked concerns regarding his future.
Rohit will be 40 by the time India feature in the ODI World Cup next year, and despite his experience and fitness, the senior batter will have to continue performing consistently to retain his spot in the side ahead of the showpiece event.