BCCI Dismisses Rohit Sharma Retirement Speculation Ahead of Lord’s ODI

New Delhi, Jul 18: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has dismissed speculation surrounding Rohit Sharma’s international future, clarifying that the Indian captain will continue to represent the country beyond the third and final ODI against England at Lord’s on Sunday. Rumours had suggested that the series-deciding ODI at Lord’s could be Rohit’s last international appearance. However, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia rejected the reports, stating that no such discussion had taken place. “There are a lot of speculations in the media about Rohit Sharma’s future. I want to firmly assert that there has been no such discussion that Rohit will be playing his last match at Lord’s on Sunday,” Saikia told PTI. He said Rohit remains a regular member of India’s ODI squad and will continue to play for the national team as long as he remains part of the selectors’ plans. “Rohit is a regular member of the Indian ODI team and he will continue to represent the country as long as he is in the scheme of things. In other words, the Lord’s ODI won’t be his last match,” Saikia said. Speculation over Rohit’s future had intensified despite his stated goal of playing until the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup, following modest scores of 11 and 26 in the first two matches of the ongoing three-match series against England. The ODI series is currently level at 1-1, with the decider scheduled to be played at Lord’s on Sunday.