Dilip Vengsarkar hits back at Rohit Sharma’s retirement

As speculation over Rohit Sharma’s retirement refuses to die down, former Indian captain and chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar slammed the people for making unnecessary noise. Dilip Vengsarkar has urged everyone to let Rohit Sharma breathe.

There were rumors even before India’s victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 that Rohit would retire from ODI cricket after lifting the trophy. However, Rohit dismissed all talks after guiding the team to a historic Champions Trophy victory by saying he is not going anywhere.

Dilip Vengsarkar slams Rohit Sharma’s retirement speculation

Now, Vengsarkar has expressed his frustration over the unnecessary speculation and emphasized that Rohit deserves the time and space to decide his own future, given his stature and contribution to Indian cricket. However, the former Indian skipper refused to comment on how long Rohit will be in the picture for the next World Cup.

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The former Indian chief has pointed out that several matches are scheduled before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027, so Rohit’s form and fitness will decide his future. He also hailed the Hitman as an exceptional leader and batter after winning back-to-back ICC titles within 10 months.

I am not an astrologer: Dilip Vengsarkar

Dilip Vengsarkar was quoted as saying by PTI, “I am not an astrologer. There are 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. The way he has been playing all this time is nothing short of exemplary. He has three double hundreds in ODI. What more do I say about him?”

The former Indian captain also hailed Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as the big-match players who shine on big stages. Vengsarkar has noted that even Kohli and Rohit’s presence alone puts pressure on the opposition, which is crucial for India’s success in the upcoming big events.

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Dilip Vengsarkar hails big match winners Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma

Vengsarkar signed off by saying, “Guys like Virat and Rohit are big match players; the bigger the platform, the better the performance. It is very important from the team’s point of view. Their sheer presence is demoralizing the opposition.”

Notably, Rohit finished the Champions Trophy 2025 with 180 runs, while Kohli has amassed 218 runs across the five innings to play a key role in India’s first ICC ODI title after 12 years. Now, the Men in Blue have three Champions Trophy, two ODI World Cup, and two T20 World Cup titles.

Now, Rohit, Kohli, and other Indian stars will shift their focus to the upcoming IPL 2025. While Rohit’s Mumbai Indians (MI) will face Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 23 at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai, Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will face the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the season opener on March 22 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.