‘Unwarranted speculation’: Dilip Vengsarkar slams rumours on Rohit Sharma’s retirement | Cricket News

Rohit Sharma. (ANI Photo)

Former Indian captain Dilip Vengsarkar expressed strong disapproval of the recent speculation surrounding Rohit Sharma’s retirement during the Champions Trophy. He emphasised that cricket legends like the current India captain should have autonomy in deciding their future.
Rohit, 37, recently dismissed rumours about his retirement from ODI format after leading India to their second ICC title in nine months. However, he hasn’t made any commitments regarding the 2027 ODI World Cup.
“I am not an astrologer. A lot of matches to go till the 2027 World Cup. A lot will depend on his form and fitness. It is not fair to say anything at this stage but he has been outstanding as both captain and player. I don’t know why people speculated (on his retirement), it’s unwarranted. A player of his stature should get to decide about his future,” Vengsarkar told PTI.

Rohit’s crucial batting performances in both the 2024 T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy proved valuable in challenging conditions. His aggressive approach in Dubai, particularly during the final against New Zealand, allowed other players to adapt to the slow pitch.
“The way he has been playing all this time is nothing short of exemplary. He has got three double hundreds in ODI. What more do I say about him.
“Guys like Virat and Rohit are big match players, bigger the platform the better the performance. It is very important from team’s point of view. Their sheer presence is demoralising the opposition,” said Vengsarkar, who is also a former chief selector who tracked both Rohit and Kohli in their early days.
Rohit’s success marks a significant turnaround from his previous struggles, which had led to him dropping himself from the final Test in Sydney.

The team’s victory was also supported by strong performances from Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul on Dubai’s slow pitches.
“Iyer did very well but I am not happy the way he got out in the final. He should have continued till the very end and finished the game. But happy to see him realise his potential.
“KL too played a few important innings at number six but still not convinced Axar Patel batting ahead of him at five. The left-hand right-hand combination could be the only reason.”
Vengsarkar also acknowledged the selection committee’s role in the team’s success.
“Credit needs to go to the selectors as well. They stuck with Rohit after the Australia series. Even the decision to take five spinners in the squad proved to be a master stroke.”