Rohit Sharma’s place in India’s plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup continues to generate debate, however former Australia opener Matthew Hayden believes the choice over how lengthy the veteran batter needs to proceed will finally relaxation with Rohit himself.Rohit, now retired from Take a look at and T20I cricket, is completely taking part in ODIs for India. Hayden feels the 39-year-old must assess whether or not he nonetheless possesses the starvation, power and motivation required to deal with the calls for of worldwide cricket alongside the Indian Premier League.Chatting with ANI, Hayden mentioned the retirement debate is one thing each veteran ultimately faces and pressured that there isn’t a definitive reply apart from the participant himself figuring out when it’s time to cease.“Look, once you get to the age Rohit is at, you begin dealing with these questions. Earlier than him, it was Virat, and earlier than that, it was Gautam Gambhir. It simply goes on and on. You may’t play this stunning recreation eternally. While you attain that stage of your profession, you are inevitably requested whether or not it is going to be the IPL or worldwide cricket that goes first. Rohit has already retired from Take a look at cricket, so finally, solely he can know whether or not he nonetheless fights a lion to maintain charging by way of what’s an extremely demanding schedule. You want a younger man’s power to compete on the very highest degree. So, ultimately, it is going to be fully his name,” Hayden informed ANI.Rohit has, nonetheless, continued to offer proof that age alone shouldn’t decide his worldwide future.Questions on his prospects of constructing the 2027 World Cup squad intensified due to his age, notably after he had already walked away from two codecs. The hypothesis reached one other degree throughout India’s ODI tour of England, with studies suggesting that the third ODI at Lord’s may doubtlessly be his remaining look for the nation.As an alternative, Rohit produced one of many standout performances of the collection.Chasing 388 within the collection decider, the previous India captain smashed 138 from simply 110 balls, placing 17 fours and 5 sixes. His innings helped him silence a lot of the hypothesis surrounding his future, though India ultimately fell brief by 27 runs.Rohit completed the three-match collection with 175 runs at a median of 58.33 and a strike price of 98.31.His efficiency within the chase was made much more memorable by his partnership with long-time India teammate Virat Kohli, who contributed 74 from 60 balls, together with 4 fours and three sixes. Regardless of their efforts, India misplaced the collection 2-1.Rohit stays probably the most prolific ODI batters within the historical past of the format. He has scored 11,895 runs in 288 matches and 280 innings at a median of 48.95 and a strike price of 93.04.His ODI file contains 34 centuries and 62 fifties, together with his highest rating being 264. He at the moment sits seventh on the all-time ODI run-scoring record and is India’s third-highest run-getter within the format, behind Virat Kohli’s 14,941 runs and Sachin Tendulkar’s 18,426.Even in 2026, Rohit has continued to contribute considerably. In 9 ODIs this 12 months, he has collected 379 runs in 9 innings at a median of 42.11, with 100 and one fifty. His highest rating stays the 138 he made towards England.With the 2027 World Cup set to be performed in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, Rohit’s future will stay beneath scrutiny. However Hayden’s view is obvious: if the veteran nonetheless has the will and bodily capability to fulfill the calls for of worldwide cricket, the ultimate choice ought to belong to him.
