Former India captain and veteran opener Rohit Sharma is reportedly set to play the final international match of his career at Lord’s on July 19 in the third and final ODI of India’s ongoing series against England.
According to multiple media reports, the Indian team management and selectors believe the time is right for the 39-year-old to make way for the next generation, with Yashasvi Jaiswal emerging as the frontrunner to replace him at the top of the order. The left-hander scored a century in his most recent ODI appearance against Afghanistan in Chennai last month, and with India’s focus gradually shifting towards building a squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup, Jaiswal is understood to be a key part of the team’s long-term plans.
However, neither Rohit nor the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially confirmed the reports.
Rohit’s prolonged lean run with the bat is understood to have played a significant role in the decision. While the Mumbai batter remains one of India’s greatest white-ball cricketers, his recent performances have lacked the consistency that once defined his game. In the first two ODIs of the ongoing series, Rohit managed scores of 11 in Birmingham and 26 in Cardiff, looking short of his fluent best on both occasions.
His dip in form has reignited the debate over India’s opening combination. At the same time, the selectors have several promising young options to consider, with Jaiswal leading the race to partner captain Shubman Gill at the top of the order.
Gill has already established himself as the cornerstone of India’s batting line-up and a central figure in the team’s future leadership plans. Jaiswal’s fearless, attacking approach also aligns with the vision for the next ODI World Cup cycle.
If the Lord’s ODI does prove to be Rohit’s international farewell, it will bring the curtain down on one of the most illustrious careers in Indian cricket. After reinventing himself as one of the finest ODI openers of all time, Rohit rewrote the record books by becoming the only player to score three double centuries in the format. He also played pivotal roles in several of India’s biggest triumphs.
As captain, Rohit led India to the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup before retiring from T20 internationals. He then guided the Men in Blue to the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, adding another major ICC title to his legacy.
Earlier, Rohit played his final Test match in Melbourne in December 2024, while the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final against South Africa in Barbados remains his last appearance in T20 internationals.
