Sunil Gavaskar Suggests India Must Rethink Plans for Senior Players, Including Rohit Sharma
Legendary former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has raised concerns about the future of not only Rohit Sharma but potentially other senior players as India prepares for the next World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. Rohit’s decision to sit out the fifth Test against Australia has sparked discussions about whether he might be nearing the end of his Test career. Gavaskar, however, believes the Indian management and selectors will need to consider the long-term futures of not just Rohit, but other aging stalwarts as well.
With the ongoing Test match in Sydney marking the conclusion of the current WTC cycle, India’s next challenge will begin over six months later, in June 2025, with a tour of England.
“If India fails to qualify for the WTC Final, the selection committee may have to reassess not just Rohit Sharma’s position but potentially those of other senior players,” Gavaskar stated on Star Sports.
He added, “The selectors could be evaluating if these players will remain crucial prospects for the 2027 WTC Final, assuming India maintains its strong performance trajectory in the coming years.” He underscored that this long-term vision should guide the selection committee’s decision-making process.
While Gavaskar made it clear that Rohit might not be part of the team’s long-term plans, his comments also seem to suggest the same for other experienced players like Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja. With all three players being over 36 years old, they are undoubtedly entering the twilight stages of their cricketing careers.
Gavaskar remarked that Rohit Sharma, at 38 years old at the start of the 2025-27 WTC cycle, might not fit into the selectors’ long-term vision, especially when he’s 40.
Despite this, Rohit has responded by clarifying that his decision to miss the fifth Test had no bearing on his future with the team. He emphasized that he isn’t focusing on what may happen five months down the line.
“I don’t believe in thinking that far ahead,” Rohit explained in a Star Sports interview. “This is not a retirement decision. I’m not walking away from the game. I’m sitting out this Test because I haven’t been scoring runs. But there’s no certainty that I won’t find form in the coming months. Every day brings a new opportunity, and I believe in myself.”
Rohit also acknowledged his own maturity, balancing his cricket career with family life. “I’ve been in this game for long enough to know what I want. No one from outside can decide when I should retire or take a break. I’m sensible, a father of two, and I know what’s best for me,” he concluded.
