Rohit Sharma, India’s star cricketer and captain, has been the subject of ongoing discussions regarding his future in international cricket. Speculation about his retirement peaked after India’s disappointing 0-3 loss to New Zealand in October 2022 – their first Test series defeat at home in 12 years. The conversation reached new heights when India was beaten 1-3 in Australia, squandering the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, Rohit’s resilient comeback has silenced critics, as he led India to a Champions Trophy victory in March 2023, just nine months after their historic T20 World Cup win.
Rohit’s Retirement: A Question for the Future
Despite his strong performance and leadership, questions about Rohit Sharma’s retirement continue to surface. In response, Rohit declared he wasn’t retiring from One Day Internationals (ODIs) anytime soon, further quelling any speculations. His focus seems clear: the 2027 World Cup is firmly in his sights. By then, Rohit would be 41, but the thought of retiring is far from his mind.
Rohit has proven time and again that age is just a number. The determination to push his limits and go that extra mile for India, especially after coming so close to winning the 2023 World Cup, fuels his desire to continue playing. The 2027 World Cup is one of his major goals, and if it means extending his career further, he is willing to do so.
Michael Clarke’s Bold Suggestion: Play Till 45
Former Australian cricketer and World Cup-winning captain Michael Clarke took the discussion to another level by suggesting that Rohit should play until he is 45. While it may sound far-fetched – as no cricketer in modern times has played at the highest level for that long – Clarke’s suggestion came from a personal place. He highlighted the fact that Rohit had recently become a father for the second time and noted that it’s possible to juggle family life and international cricket.
On Clarke’s Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, the conversation unfolded with Clarke offering his congratulations to Rohit for the birth of his second child, Ahan. He then joked, “You can be a dad and still play. Play till you’re 45 and then retire.”
In his typically light-hearted manner, Rohit responded, “I am going home tomorrow. So just one day of being dad.”
Rohit Sharma’s Fatherhood Journey
Rohit Sharma has often spoken about the challenges of balancing cricket and fatherhood. In November 2022, his wife, Ritika, gave birth to their second child, Ahan, and Rohit made sure to be there for his family. This meant missing the series opener in Perth, but the Indian captain was granted paternity leave by the BCCI, which allowed him to spend time with his newborn. This decision was a moment of reflection for Rohit, who had missed the birth of his first child, Samaira, in 2018 during India’s Australia tour.
Recalling the experience, Rohit shared, “In the 2018 Australia tour, I had to miss a Test match and fly back home, but I was a day late. My wife had already given birth. We were in the middle of the Boxing Day Test match, and I was looking at the clock, thinking, ‘Ok, I can make this flight.’ But Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon batted the whole time and then we had to come next morning to get them out.”
He added, “I requested BCCI that I just want to stay home, and without hesitation, the BCCI was like, ‘Just go for it.’ There was no pressure on me to come to Australia. It was just my call, whenever I wanted to come. And look, Australia is a place you don’t want to miss playing cricket in. We all love coming here and playing.”
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