Rohit Sharma Retirement: Do His Last 10 ODI Innings Really Show He Should Retire?

Rohit Sharma's ODI future is back in the news. There is growing talk about whether the 39-year-old opener will continue until the 2027 ODI World Cup or whether India will soon start looking at other options.

His age is one reason for this debate, but his form also needs to be considered. Rohit has not stopped scoring runs. In fact, his last 10 ODI innings include a century, two fifties and several useful starts.

So, before judging whether Rohit should retire, it is worth looking at what he has actually done with the bat.

Rohit Sharma's Last 10 ODI Innings

Rohit has scored 454 runs in his last 10 ODI innings at an average of 45.40. His scores during this period are: 75, 26, 24, 11, 16, 48, 79, 11, 26 and 138

He has scored one century and two half-centuries in these 10 innings. He has also not been dismissed for a single-digit score during this period.

There is one concern in these numbers. Rohit has got starts in several matches but has not always converted them into big scores. Still, an average above 45 hardly suggests that he is completely out of form.

The 138 at Lord's Came at the Right Time

Questions over Rohit's future became louder during the ODI series against England. He scored only 11 and 26 in the first two matches, putting more pressure on himself going into the third ODI at Lord's.

Rohit answered with 138 off 110 balls.

India were chasing England's 387/3, so the innings did not result in a win, but it was an important knock for Rohit. He showed that he can still play a long innings while maintaining the attacking approach expected from him at the top of the order.

The hundred also made Rohit the first Indian batter to score an ODI century at Lord's.

For a player whose retirement was already being discussed, the timing of the innings could hardly have been better.

Why Is Rohit Sharma's Retirement Being Discussed?

Rohit's form is only one part of the discussion.

He is 39 and will be 40 by the time the 2027 ODI World Cup is played. India therefore have to decide whether they want to continue with him until the tournament or prepare another opener for the role.

Reports have also suggested that Rohit's future is being discussed as part of India's plans for the next World Cup.

At the same time, there has been no official announcement from Rohit about retiring from ODIs. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had also dismissed reports in July that the Lord's ODI would be Rohit's final international match.

So, retirement rumours and India's selection plans should not be treated as the same thing.

Rohit may want to continue playing, while the selectors still have to decide whether they see him in the 2027 World Cup squad.

Age Is a Bigger Question Than Current Form

If Rohit's recent numbers are considered, form is probably not the biggest concern at the moment.

The bigger challenge is maintaining the same level for another year.

India will also have to think about fitness and other opening options. If a younger opener performs consistently, the selectors will have another reason to consider a change before the World Cup.

Rohit, on the other hand, can make that decision difficult by continuing to score runs.

His 138 at Lord's helped his case, but one big innings cannot secure a World Cup spot. The next few ODI series will be far more important.

Should Rohit Sharma Retire Now?

His last 10 ODI innings do not suggest that retirement is the obvious next step.

Rohit has 454 runs at an average of 45.40 in those matches. He has also just scored 138 against England at Lord's. Judging him only on recent ODI form, there is still enough output with the bat to justify his place.

But the 2027 World Cup is a different matter.

Rohit will have to keep scoring runs and stay fit. The selectors, meanwhile, have to decide whether continuing with him is better for the team than giving a younger opener enough time to settle before the World Cup.

For now, Rohit's bat has given the selectors a reason to keep the discussion open. What he does in his next few ODI series could decide the rest.