Basit Ali, a former batter for Pakistan, has cautioned that any attempt to force Rohit Sharma to retire could have consequences that extend beyond the Indian skipper, implying that Virat Kohli might also choose to end his career.
Ahead of India’s final ODI against England at Lord’s, speculation about Rohit’s future has increased. According to sources, the 39-year-old may be thinking about his future in the format.
Basit cautioned against making snap judgments on Rohit based only on his recent performance, arguing that he should stay in the team as long as his performances warrant it. The former Pakistani cricket player went so far as to say that pressure on Rohit might possibly affect Kohli’s intentions for the future.
“If he continues to perform, he should keep playing. Right now, if you want to judge him solely on the basis of his performances in the two matches in England or on Gautam Gambhir’s likes and dislikes, then you should also keep Virat Kohli in mind,” Basit said on his YouTube channel.
“If today it is Rohit’s turn, then next time it could be Virat’s. Given the way Virat retired from Test cricket, there is a possibility that both of them could announce their retirements at Lord’s. If too much pressure is applied, I feel such a decision could end up being made, which would be a huge mistake, because the cricketing world still wants to watch Virat play,” Basit added.
Following scores of 11 and 26 in the first two ODIs against England, Rohit’s future has been a hot topic of discussion. The management of the Indian squad has openly supported the seasoned opener despite the criticism, with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak maintaining that Rohit is still “too good” a player to be impacted by outside noise.
Since the former India skipper withdrew from Test cricket in May 2025, concerns about Kohli’s future have also increased. Nonetheless, the veteran is still a vital part of the ODI team and was crucial to India’s Champions Trophy victory the previous year.
According to Basit, removing senior players could deprive supporters of the chance to honor two contemporary greats on their own terms. Additionally, the former Pakistani batter argued that players of Rohit’s calibre should say goodbye to their home fans rather than foreign audiences.
“Let’s see what happens in the match the day after tomorrow. But if this turns out to be his last game, then he has been a truly great ambassador. My wish is that it should not be his final match. And if you have to give someone a farewell, then let them have it in front of their own people,” he said.
However, on one side Rohit Sharma has struggled of runs in 2026 in ODIs, Virat Kohli has flourished with 310 runs in 5 ODIs in 2026 with one century and 2 fifties at an average of 62 and strike rate of 103.33. He is much likely to continue till the 2027 ICC World Cup given that he will be 39 years old only and is much fitter than Rohit Sharma.
Also there is no real competition for his no.3 spot in the Indian team, while Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad are waiting in the wings for the opening spot in ODIs.
Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at Sky365 and download the Sky365 App to start betting today!
